The Terengganu Blood Bank Services recently highlighted a story about a Malaysian woman who is one of only 43 in the world who has the rarest blood type, dubbed “The Golden Blood”.
In a recent Facebook post, the blood bank said the woman has RH null blood and is the rarest in the blood.
The Golden Blood.
The rarest blood type in the world.Kumpulan darah penderma ini ialah Rhnull, iaitu kumpulan darah…
Posted by Derma Darah Terengganu Kite on Thursday, 25 November 2021
She is also the only Malaysian with that blood type.
Her blood will be sent to the National Blood Centre in Kuala Lumpur, stored in a nitrogen-filled container at -80 degrees Celsius up to 10 years.
If a patient needs this type of blood, then it will be diluted for use, said the blood bank.
According to MedicineNet, a Rh-D negative person only lacks the Rh-D antigen, whereas people with the rare Rh null blood type have a total absence of all Rh antigens on their red blood cells.
This rare blood group was first discovered in an Aboriginal Australian woman in 1961.
However, those with the Rh null blood can only rely on the incredibly scarce supply of donated Rh null blood, if they ever need it.
People with ‘golden blood’ usually donate their blood to prevent shortages around the world and it is frozen for future potential life-saving use.
“You are the special one, sis!”, the blood bank said.
