Know your blood type, reduce your risk
A blood type test is often done before a person gets a blood transfusion and to check a pregnant woman's blood type. A blood type test may also be done to see if two people are likely to be blood relatives.
Blood groups are extremely important when receiving a blood transfusion. There are some blood groups (eg group O Negative, the ‘universal donor’) that can be given to almost any other person. However other blood groups (eg group AB) must only be transfused to people of the same blood group in order to prevent a potentially fatal transfusion reaction.
What we test
Blood grouping
Blood types are either A, B, AB, or O, and Rhesus (Rh) positive or negative. A blood type test determines which of the eight most common blood types a person is: A+, A-, O+, O-, B+, B-, AB+ and AB-.
You inherit your blood type from a mix of your parents’ genes. There are eight main blood types, organised through two combined systems. These systems are ABO (blood types A, B, AB or O) and Rhesus type or group (positive or negative). Your blood type is a combination of these two systems.
Test instructions
Download and print your pathology form from your i-screen dashboard.
Take your form to one of our affiliated collection centres to have your sample taken.
You do not need to fast for this blood test.
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