The Most Unusual Blood Type: Exploring Remarkably Rare Variants

Voting rules: Choose the blood type you think is the most unusual!

Jun 16, 2023 10:18 (Updated on Dec 5, 2023 10:19)

Welcome to StrawPoll, where opinions collide and rankings emerge! Are you ready to dive into the mysterious world of blood types? We've curated a unique and intriguing ranking of the most unusual blood types, and we need your expertise! Unleash your inner hematologist and join thousands of others in voting for your favorite rare blood type or even suggest an option we might have missed. Be part of this fascinating exploration into the rarities that run through our veins and help us uncover the ultimate unusual blood type. So, roll up your sleeves, put on your lab coat, and vote now, because your opinion matters at StrawPoll!

What Is the Most Unusual Blood Type?

1

34
votes
Bombay Blood Group

Dr. Y. M. Bhende

This is the rarest blood type in the world, found in only 1 in every 250,000 people. It lacks the H antigen present in all other blood types, making it difficult to identify and transfuse.
Description

The Bombay Blood Group is a rare blood type found in a small percentage of humans. It is considered the most unusual blood type because individuals with this blood type lack the usual A, B, and AB antigens on the surface of their red blood cells.

Discovery Year: 1952

Prevalence: Approximately 1 in 250,000 individuals

Inheritance: Recessive genetic trait

Blood Antigens: Lack A, B, and AB antigens

Blood Group: Hh
2

45
votes
Rh-null

Also known as the golden blood type, it lacks all 61 antigens in the Rh system, making it universal for transfusion, but extremely rare, with only 43 known donors worldwide.
Description

Rh-null is an extremely rare blood type characterized by the absence of the Rh antigen on red blood cells. It is considered one of the most difficult blood types to match for transfusion or organ transplantation.

Frequency: Estimated to occur in about 1 in 6 million people

Inheritance: Autosomal recessive

Transfusion compatibility: Can receive blood only from Rh-null individuals

Organ transplantation compatibility: Limited availability of compatible organs

Challenges: Limited supply of Rh-null blood, difficulty in finding compatible donors in emergency situations
3

19
votes
Rh-mod

This blood type has a modified version of the Rh antigen, making it difficult to identify and potentially causing complications during transfusion. It is extremely rare, with only a few known cases.
Description

Rh-mod (Rh-modified) is considered one of the most unusual blood types. It is a rare variant of the Rh blood group system, characterized by significant modifications in the RhD antigen.

Frequency: Very rare, with less than 0.01% of the population having this blood type

Rh system: Rh-mod belongs to the Rh blood group system

RhD antigen: Rh-mod exhibits significant modifications in the RhD antigen

Antibodies: Individuals with Rh-mod blood type may produce unique antibodies not found in other blood types

Transfusion compatibility: Rh-mod blood type may have limited compatibility with other Rh blood types
4

22
votes
Vel-negative

This rare blood type lacks the Vel antigen, found in only 1 in 2,500 people, making it difficult to identify and requiring specialized testing for transfusion.
Description

Vel-negative is a highly unusual blood type that lacks the Vel antigen. It is extremely rare and found in less than 1% of the population. The absence of the Vel antigen can cause complications during blood transfusions and pregnancy. People with Vel-negative blood type are often referred to as Vel-negative or 'null' individuals.

Rareness: Less than 1% of the population

Antigen: Lacks the Vel antigen

Complications: Can cause issues during blood transfusions and pregnancies

Blood compatibility: Can only receive blood from other Vel-negative individuals

Universal donor: Can donate blood to individuals of any Rh blood type
5

11
votes

Junior-negative

This blood type lacks the Junior antigen, found in only 1 in 2,000 people, making it difficult to identify and requiring specialized testing for transfusion.
6

6
votes
Kell-negative

This blood type lacks the Kell antigen, found in only 1 in 2,000 people, making it difficult to identify and requiring specialized testing for transfusion.
Description

Kell-negative blood type is a rare blood group variation characterized by the absence of the K antigen on red blood cells. Individuals with Kell-negative blood can have antibodies against the K antigen, which can cause complications during blood transfusions or pregnancies.

Blood Group System: Kell system

Antigen Name: K antigen

Antibodies: Anti-K antibodies

Frequency: Approximately 9% of the population is Kell-negative

Inheritance: Autosomal dominant
7

15
votes
Diego-negative

This blood type lacks the Diego antigen, found in only 1 in 3,000 people, making it difficult to identify and requiring specialized testing for transfusion.
Description

Diego-negative is a rare blood type that was first discovered in the early 1980s. It is characterized by the absence of the Diego antigen on the surface of red blood cells. Individuals with Diego-negative blood can only receive blood transfusions from other Diego-negative donors.

Discovery Year: 1980s

Antigen Absence: Diego antigen

Compatibility: Only compatible with Diego-negative blood

Transfusion Dependence: Requires matched Diego-negative blood for transfusions

Prevalence: Extremely rare
8

9
votes
Duffy-negative

This blood type lacks the Duffy antigen, found in only 1 in 68 people of African descent, making it resistant to certain strains of malaria but also requiring specialized testing for transfusion.
Description

Duffy-negative refers to a rare blood type characterized by the absence of the Duffy antigen on the surface of red blood cells. The Duffy antigen is a protein that acts as a receptor for chemokines involved in immune response and inflammatory processes. This blood type is primarily found in individuals with African ancestry.

Frequency: The Duffy-negative blood type is estimated to occur in around 20% of individuals of African descent.

Resistance to Plasmodium vivax: Duffy-negative individuals are generally resistant to infection by the malaria-causing parasite Plasmodium vivax, as the parasite requires the Duffy antigen to invade red blood cells.

Increased susceptibility to HIV: Some studies suggest that Duffy-negative individuals may have an increased risk of acquiring HIV infection.

Influence on blood transfusions: Duffy-negative blood can trigger alloimmunization in individuals with Duffy-positive blood during transfusions and pregnancies.

Impact on organ transplants: The Duffy-negative blood type can be a factor to consider in organ transplantation, as compatibility between Duffy-negative donors and recipients may play a role.
9

10
votes
Yt-null

This blood type lacks the Yt antigen, found in only a few known cases, making it difficult to identify and requiring specialized testing for transfusion.
Description

Yt-null is an extremely rare blood type characterized by the absence of the Yt antigen on red blood cells. It is considered to be the rarest blood type in the world.

Rarity: Yt-null is estimated to occur in less than 1 in a million people globally, making it extremely scarce.

Compatibility: Individuals with Yt-null blood can only receive blood transfusions from individuals with the same blood type.

Lack of Yt Antigen: Yt-null blood lacks the Yt antigen, which distinguishes it from other blood types.

Antibodies: Yt-null individuals may produce antibodies against other blood types that possess the Yt antigen.

Transfusion Challenges: Finding compatible donor blood for Yt-null individuals can be extremely difficult due to its rarity.
10

10
votes
Landsteiner-Wiener

This blood type lacks the A and B antigens but has a unique antigen not found in any other blood type, making it rare but also universal for transfusion.
Description

The Landsteiner-Wiener blood type, also known as LW, is a rare and unusual blood type that was discovered and named by Karl Landsteiner and Walter Wiener in 1940. It is characterized by the absence of the antigens M, N, and S on red blood cells.

Antigen Absence: LW lacks the M, N, and S antigens on red blood cells.

Distribution: The Landsteiner-Wiener blood type is predominantly found in people of Polynesian and Melanesian descent.

Antibodies: LW individuals may produce anti-LW antibodies in response to exposure to LW-positive blood.

Compatibility: LW blood type can typically receive transfusions from blood types A, B, AB, and O, but may have limitations depending on the presence of other antibodies.

Transfusion Reactions: Transfusion reactions may occur if LW-positive blood is transfused to individuals with LW-negative blood type.

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Discussion

Ranking factors for unusual blood type

2) Compatibility

The compatibility of a blood type is also important. For instance, people with O- blood type are universal donors, while those with AB+ blood type are universal recipients.
3) Antigens and antibodies

The presence of antigens and antibodies in the blood type is another factor to consider. For example, people with Rh- blood type lack the Rh antigen, which can be a problem if they receive Rh+ blood.
4) Genetic inheritance

The genetic inheritance of a blood type also affects its rarity. Some blood types are more prevalent in certain geographic regions or ethnic groups.
5) Medical significance

Finally, the medical significance of a blood type is also important to consider. Certain blood types may be associated with higher risks for certain diseases or medical conditions.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most unusual blood type. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or blood type is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

1826 views
181 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each blood type once every 24 hours. The rank of each blood type is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most unusual blood type

Blood types are determined by the presence or absence of specific antigens on the surface of red blood cells. There are four main blood types: A, B, AB, and O. However, there are also rare blood types that occur in less than 1% of the population. One of the most unusual blood types is the Bombay blood group, also known as h/h blood type. This blood type is extremely rare and occurs in less than 0.0001% of the population. People with the Bombay blood group do not have the H antigen, which is necessary for the A and B antigens to be formed. As a result, they cannot receive blood from anyone except another person with the same blood type. The rarity of this blood type makes it difficult to find donors in case of emergencies, highlighting the importance of blood donation and awareness about rare blood types.