8th November 2022
The Ro subtype is a very special blood type which is part of the Rh group, which is under the control of two genes – RHD and RHCE. The Ro subtype is simply blood with a certain combination of genes, and is perfectly normal. It does not affect an individual’s blood type or how it works.
Individuals from Black African or Black Caribbean ethnic backgrounds are 10 times more likely to have the Ro subtypes than individuals from white ethnic backgrounds. There is an urgent call for more blood donors of Black heritage as the NHS revealed new figures that a record 250 donations are now needed every day to treat sickle cell disorder, the fastest growing genetic condition in the UK (mostly affecting people of black heritage). Hospitals are in huge demand to treat patients with sickle cell as the 250 figure has increased from 150 within five years. Only 2.2% of donors who gave blood last year have the Ro subtype. That means a potential shortage of Ro blood for the people most likely to need it.
That’s just one of the many reasons why NHS and ourselves are encouraging more individuals from black African and black Caribbean ethnic backgrounds to donate blood.
Ethnically matched blood provides the best treatment and Black donors are urgently needed to meet the increasing demand.
Sickle cell causes red blood cells to form into sickle or crescent shapes and become stuck in blood vessels, causing agonising crisis episodes, and serious or even fatal long term complications including organ damage and strokes. Many patients need regular blood transfusions to stay alive.
Currently, NHS Blood and Transplant is only able to provide matched blood for just over half of the hospital requests – other patients need to be treated with O Negative, the universal blood type.
Being treated with O Negative rather than the correct blood type is clinically safe but could mean, long term, patients are more likely to develop antibodies. This puts them at risk of complications and makes it even harder to find blood they can receive.
Gloria Olutayo is a 20-year-old student in her second year of college, studying Creative Media Production and Technology. Gloria loves shopping for clothes and hanging out with her friends and family, like many other young people her age.
Gloria is a Sickle Cell warrior (someone who is living with sickle cell disorder), however, unlike most sickle cell patients, she wasn’t diagnosed at birth. Click here to read more about Gloria’s Sickle Cell journey.
There are 15,000 people in the UK who have Sickle Cell disorder, in November 2021 the Sickle Cell Society released a report called The ‘No One’s Listening’ report, highlighting shocking failures as cross-party MPs call for major changes into care for sickle cell patients.
To find out if you have the Ro subtype; register to give blood via the NHS by clicking here
Upon donation you will receive an email of a map showing which hospital received your blood and where it was processed.
Have a look at our patient appeals page for personal stories on our Sickle Cell warriors.