Landmark study: How Australia’s blood types are changing

An increasingly 'positive' population may be challenging for supply of RhD-negative red blood cells, researchers say

Changes in the prevalence of certain blood types in Australia may make it increasingly challenging to find RhD-negative blood donors, the national blood supplier says.

In the first analysis of the distribution of blood groups for nearly 30 years, the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood notes the proportion of people with RhD-positive blood has risen in line with changing demographics as a result of immigration.

Their landmark study, published by The Medical Journal of Australia on Monday, included data from 1.3 million patients who underwent blood pathology testing in 2019 and another half a million blood donors.  

The data showed only 14% of the population had a negative blood type, and just 6.5% were O negative, compared with 19% and 9% respectively in 1993-94.