Is it possible for the United Blood Services to make a mistake in labelling the blood type of a donor?

Question

In my birth certificate, it says my blood type is O (both my parents said they have a blood type O). But when I donated blood in the States some 4 years ago, I was [later] mailed a card that said my blood type was A positive. Who/what should I believe -- my birth certificate or recent findings? I was born in the Philippines, though. And so are my parents. I guess you can consider the kind of technology we probably had back then.

Answer 1

It is remotely conceivable ... it it's hard to imagine how.   There is just too much at stake with giving incorrect blood types that they check and recheck and have all sorts of redundant systems.

I am far more likely to trust a recent blood donation than a birth certificate.

It's really easy to check (and it's not only free, but you'll be doing a good deed).  Go donate blood again.

Answer 2

Yes, it is possible that the United Blood Services to make a mistake in labeling blood. It is very very rare but it CAN happen, after all it is still tested and classified by a human scientist first and then they enter their data into a computer and the computer sends/copies the data that it has been given anywhere it has been requested. Anyway, what is more likely though is that your birth cert is incorrect. Just because your parents are both "O" does not guarantee that their children will have the same blood type as them. Blood is after all simple genetics, just like the color of your hair and eyes, the body build you're going to have, how tall you're going to be, if you'll be ugly or good-looking, etc.....It's all based on the make up of your DNA and the genetic code within it. Sometimes both parents can be no taller then 5'5" in height and have a son that's 6'6" or parents that are both as thin as a rail and have a child that is either obese or a natural body builder. It just depends on the Dominate and Recessive Genes in the DNA make-up of your parents. So for example when it comes to your blood differences, when 2 recessive gennes pair up they can overcome any dominate gene and that's all that happened. If you still want to make sure feel free to go to another blood drive, YOUR BLOOD IS VERY MUCH NEEDED, or make a doctor's appt and have him send your blood to a lab and see what results he gets.

Just for asking sake, yes, I am a medical student.