• cordlesslamp@lemmy.today
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    6 days ago

    Years ago I read somewhere that they discovered a way to remove something from the blood and make it universal, like eliminate blood type all together.

    Wonder how that research going?

    • cRazi_man@lemm.ee
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      6 days ago

      It’s expensive and blood can only be stored for so long. Easiest to stick with compatible blood types.

      There are also loads of other antigens in blood that can cause a reaction. These are just the commonly known ones. So blood should still be cross matched anyway if it isn’t an emergency.

      • DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social
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        6 days ago

        And, quite frankly, we actually are getting somewhat close to producible artificial blood, so there’s just not a whole lot of need for the investment.

        And those artificial blood studies have DARPA money behind them.

  • don@lemm.ee
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    6 days ago

    Only [YOUR BLOOD TYPE HERE] homies can interact with this comment.

  • roguetrick@lemmy.world
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    7 days ago

    It ends up being more complicated. You get enough infusions as AB+ and you’ll start picking up strange antibodies that increase your chance for that sense of impending doom

    Similarly you could likely receive O+ blood if you were O- without adverse effects, but only once.

    • ggtdbz@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      6 days ago

      Yeah we don’t really mix blood types at all here in Lebanon, and I really doubt they do anywhere else. Universal donor and universal recipient is just theory, in practice it’s easier to receive O- than AB+ because AB is really uncommon (as is the case everywhere).

      AFAIK the A/B and Rhesus antigens are not the only markers and there are more blood compatibility components that are taken into account if possible.

    • cynar@lemmy.world
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      6 days ago

      I have a relative who has an unfortunate condition that causes internal bleeding. They’ve had enough blood transfusions that their antibodies are completely haywire.

      Multiple times, doctors have not listened to their protests, and given them O-. They turn an impressive shade of yellow (among other, more serious, issues).

      Last I heard, there were 2 compatible donors known, 1 in a different country. Thankfully, you can store blood longer term. It’s just not cost efficient to do in bulk. They have their own little stockpile of blood at their local hospital (mostly self donated).