You don’t need to know your blood type. Donors may be notified of their blood type following their donation when they receive their blood donor card or by creating a profile through the Red Cross Blood Donor App.

Luckily, there are easy ways to find out your blood type.

1. Ask your parents or doctor.
2. Blood draw. Next time you go in to get your blood drawn, ask to know your blood type.
3. At-home blood test. You can also purchase an at-home blood test online and have it shipped to your door.
4. Blood donation.
5. Saliva test.

Find yours on the chart to learn more! If you do not know your blood type, you can find out approximately three days after you donate with us, by calling 1-866-256-6372.

The test to determine your blood group is called ABO typing. Your blood sample is mixed with antibodies against type A and B blood. Then, the sample is checked to see whether or not the blood cells stick together. If blood cells stick together, it means the blood reacted with one of the antibodies.

How to find out your blood type for free. One way to find out your blood type is to donate blood. If you donate to community blood supplies, ask the staff if they’ll be able to tell you your blood type. Many donation centers are able to provide that information.

Patients with any blood type can receive O negative blood. O+ is the most frequently occurring blood type and is found in 37 percent of the population. O- is found in six percent of the population.

Without drawing blood A person may be able to use a saliva sample to test for their blood type, as some people produce the characteristic antigens in their saliva. According to 2018 research , if a person does secrete these antigens in their saliva, a sample of dried saliva can reliably indicate their blood type.

Secretors can have their blood type determined by a saliva or other body fluid test. Blood typing kits using saliva are available online, but they’re typically more expensive. Using one of the kits, you’ll first learn whether you’re a secretor. If you are, then you’ll be able to determine you ABO blood type.

You can test your blood at home without going to a doctor or donating blood, just by going to your nearest pharmacy and buying a home test kit for as low as $10. This will require you to prick your finger and put drops of your blood on a special test card or in vials of fluid.

If you donate to community blood supplies, ask the staff if they’ll be able to tell you your blood type. Many donation centers are able to provide that information. Typically, you won’t get your blood type immediately and may have to wait a few weeks, as blood isn’t commonly tested right away.

Most people find out their blood type when they first give blood. But you can discover your likely blood type before you become a donor. If are curious about your blood type, you can attend a What’s Your Blood Type event to register as a new donor and have a free blood type test.

How often you can donate: Every 28 days up to 13 times a year Our staff may ask if you’d like to make a different type of blood donation at your appointment, based on your blood type. You can also choose what type of donation you would like to make when scheduling an appointment. Not all donation types are available at all locations.

To find this information out, start by calling the Red Cross Blood Services at 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or (800) 448-3543. The easiest way is to simply donate blood again. Despite what you may have read on Quora, O negative is not “the best” blood type.