A positive blood type

Your blood type is determined by genes inherited from your parents.

Whether your blood type is rare, common or somewhere in between, your donations are vital in helping save and improve lives.

You can register online to give blood.

How rare is A positive blood?

1 in 3 donors is A positive

Around 30% of donors have A positive blood, making it the second most common blood type after O positive (36%).

A young woman holds a card that says, "I'm blood type A+"

Who can receive A positive blood?

A positive and AB positive people

A positive red blood cells can be given to people with:

  • A positive blood
  • AB positive blood

You're somebody's type - diagram showing which blood groups can receive A positive blood

What blood can A positive people receive?

Groups A and O

People with A positive blood can receive donations from:

  • A positive donors
  • A negative donors
  • O negative donors
  • O positive donors

Why is A positive blood important?

It's always in demand

A positive makes up almost a third of requests for blood from hospitals so we need to maintain a regular supply.

A positive blood from male donors can also be made into special medicines to treat conditions such as Dry Eye Syndrome.

Platelets from A positive donations are also important. Last year more A positive platelets were issued to hospitals than any other blood type.