Blood Type
Blood Type Chart
IF THE BLOOD TYPE OF A SEMEN DONOR IS IMPORTANT TO YOU.... Many patients feel that the blood type of the donor is crucial when choosing a donor. By selecting a donor whose blood type matches the husband's/partner's blood type, patients may feel more secure about issues related to confidentiality. The donor's blood type may be medically important to consider if the mother is Rh negative (Rh-). These women may develop antibodies to a fetus that is Rh positive. It is important to remember that children do not always inherit the same exact blood type as their biological parents. For example, a couple with blood types of A and B could have an offspring with any of the four blood types: A, B, O, or AB. Please keep in mind that if you elect to use the blood type of a donor as one of your selection criteria, you will decrease the number of donor choices available to you. The following two tables will help explain the inheritance of blood type: |
||
| Table A: Possible ABO Blood Groups In Couples And Their Children |
||
| If the couple's blood types are: | The child's blood group could be: | |
| Possible | Impossible | |
| O and O | O | A, B, or AB |
| O and A | O or A | B or AB |
| O and B | O or B | A or AB |
| O and AB | A or B | O or AB |
| A and A | O or A | B or AB |
| A and B | O, A, B or AB | None |
| A and AB | A, B or AB | O |
| B and B | O or B | A or AB |
| B and AB | A, B or AB | O |
| AB and AB | A, B or AB | O |
| Table B: If You Wish To Select A Donor Blood Type That Will Match Your Husband's or Partner's |
||
| If the couple's blood types are: | The donor's blood type may be: | |
| A and A | A or O | |
| A and B | A, B or O | |
| A and O | A or O | |
| B and B | B or O | |
| B and O | B or O | |
| O and O | must be O | |
| If the recipient is AB and her partner is: |
The donor may be: | |
| A | any type | |
| B | any type | |
| O | must be O | |
| AB | any type | |
| If her partner is AB and the recipient is: |
The donor should be: | |
| A | AB but not O * | |
| B | AB but not O * | |
| O | AB but not O * | |
| AB | any type | |
* Blood type A or blood type B could be used. However, if both the donor and the recipient contribute the gene for blood type O to the child, the child will have blood type O. This outcome would not be possible with a partner who has blood type AB.
If you have additional questions regarding blood type and donor selection, please contact the Genetics Department at
(877) 743-6384.
How It Works
