AB –
The Rare One
AB Negatives are the most rare blood type in the world. You are also known as the “Universal Plasma Donor.”
BLOOD TYPE FACTS
Every Blood Type Has Its Perks
Your blood is in high demand because you can donate plasma to anyone! Plasma has a very specific use to help patients.
How many people have my blood type?
AB- makes up only 1% of the population.
Who can I give to?
You can give to AB- and AB+.
Who can I receive from?
You can receive from O-, A-, B-, and AB-.
What's My preferred donation type?
Your blood type is best utilized when you give Platelets and Plasma (both are available only at our centers). Look below to see the details of each donation type!
YOUR UNIQUE DONATION TYPE
CONSIDER GIVING
Platelets
Platelet donation is collected only in our centers. This donation is used mainly to treat cancer patients. The process usually takes 2 hours from start to finish. Females must be tested for HLA if they have ever been pregnant and your platelet count must be at least 150 depending on blood volume.
You can donate every 7 Days.
CONSIDER GIVING
Plasma
Donating Plasma with us is different than facilities that pay for plasma. All of our plasma that is donated goes directly to burn patients and those with blood disorders in your local hospitals. This donation can only be done at our centers and the process of donation takes about 1.5 hours.
You can donate every 28 Days.
Rh-Negative
In the United States, only 15% of the poplulation has a negative antigen! This means that negatives need to donate more to make up for the need for rh-negative transfusions.
Rh-Postitive
In the United States, 85% of the population has this Rh-positive blood factor, which means most people have positive blood types.
History of The Blood Connection
1962
A group of physicians, hospital and civic leaders decided on a plan to serve the needs of patients in the community and formed The Greenville Blood Assurance Plan.
1978-1981
The Greenville Blood Assurance Plan was officially merged into a new organization called Carolina-Georgia Blood Center. This created a central resource for collecting and processing blood and blood products, ensuring patients access to blood available in the region.
2000
The board of trustees adopted the mission-oriented name, The Blood Connection.
Growth of The Blood Connection
2003-2014
The Blood Connection expands into 4 more locations throughout the Upstate of SC and into NC.
2016
A new modern brand identity was created to establish a set of standards that will help maintain a sense of continuity as more regions are added.
2017-Present
The Blood Connection experiences an immense amount of growth in South Carolina and into North Carolina, adding over 35 counties to the service area. New centers in Asheville, Raleigh, and Charleston were built with more locations added.
History
Karl Landsteiner was the first to identify the three main blood groups, A, B, and O. This discovery changed the world of blood donation and affects us even today.