How your blood type could reduce your risk of coronavirus by 20% – and how to find out yours
PATIENTS with a certain blood type are up to 20 per cent less likely to get the coronavirus, research has found. People with type O blood may be protected from Covid-19 after experts found a link between the genes that determine blood type and the virus. Genetic testing company 23andMe recruited more that 750,000 people […]
PATIENTS with a certain blood type are up to 20 per cent less likely to get the coronavirus, research has found.
People with type O blood may be protected from Covid-19 after experts found a link between the genes that determine blood type and the virus.
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Genetic testing company 23andMe recruited more that 750,000 people for a study on different blood types.
The test included 10,000 who said they had the coronavirus.
Researchers discovered that people with type O blood were between nine and 18 per cent less likely to test positive for Covid-19 than people with other blood types.
Their results found that 1.3 per cent of people with type O blood tested positive for the virus.
This is while 1.4 per cent of people with type A blood and 1.5 per cent of people with type B or AB blood were also confirmed to have the virus.
People who had type O blood were also 26 per cent less likely to contract the virus if they had been exposed.
Researchers from 23andMe said they had found a variant in the ABO gene,which is responsible for different blood types.
They noted that the research had not yet been peer reviewed.
What are the different blood types
There are four main blood groups and these are determined by the genes you inherit from your parents
The four main groups are define by the ABO system:
- blood group A – has A antigens on the red blood cells with anti-B antibodies in the plasma
- blood group B – has B antigens with anti-A antibodies in the plasma
- blood group O – has no antigens, but both anti-A and anti-B antibodies in the plasma
- blood group AB – has both A and B antigens, but no antibodies
According to the NHS blood O is the most common blood type in the UK with nearly half of the population having this blood type.
In a statement a spokesperson said: “The study and recruitment are ongoing, with the hope that we can use our research platform to better understand differences in how people respond to the virus.
“Ultimately, we hope to publish our research findings in order to provide more insight into Covid-19 for the scientific community.”
Your blood type and how to find it
So far in the UK over 40,000 people have died from the coronavirus and the new development could help healthcare practitioners protect those at risk.
To find out your blood group a sample of your blood would need to be taken.
GPs don’t usually do this on appointments so you can always give blood in order to determine this.
If you give blood through the NHS Blood and Transplant scheme it will be recorded on your official donor card.
Giving blood is considered as essential travel during the coronavirus pandemic and the NHS are encouraging people to continue to donate.
The NHS said: “Travelling to donate is allowed because it helps meet the medical needs of vulnerable people.
“We have introduced several changes to give donors confidence about hygiene and social distancing.”
The NHS said it is also encouraging the use of face masks for those people who are giving blood, in line with government guidance.
In order to give blood you need to register, confirmation of this may be delayed due to the pandemic.
One you are fully registered you can book your first appointment and give blood.
Various companies also offer at home testing kits.
This will usually involve a finger prick test with your sample.
You will usually be provided with a card which will have different markings on it.
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After putting the blood on the card you will be able to see where it thickens and spreads out.
Indicators will then tell you what blood type you are.
Some home testing kits will provide you with vials of fluid rather than a card.
If you have given blood before though your blood type will be part of your NHS records.
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