Re: Rareness, was Re: Eat for your blood type?

From: spike66 (spike66@attbi.com)
Date: Thu Mar 27 2003 - 23:36:29 MST

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    Michael M. Butler wrote:
    > On Thu, 27 Mar 2003 21:32:55 +0200, Amara Graps <amara@amara.com> wrote:
    >
    >> I saw these numbers (didn't save the web page tho)
    >> AB-is 0.7 % population
    >> AB+ is 3.4 % (me) I don't know if this qualifies as 'rare'.
    >
    > I have heard the heuristic for "rare" as any group constituting less
    > than 10% of the local population, so it might vary somewhat from place
    > to place-- but I'd say you qualify. Spike has mentioned in posts past
    > that one quite rare category of blood is CMV-negative (not an ABO blood
    > type category). I expect there are many others of note.

    CMV negative isn't a blood type, it just indicates not
    having cytomegalovirus, which most adults have. It is
    sexually transmitted, so if you ever got laid much in
    college, you probably have it. CMV is nearly always
    symptomless, but the medics want to avoid giving it
    to infants if possible.

    In an emergency sitch, like an accident scene where the rescue
    workers don't know the victim's bloodtypes, the O negative
    can be given to everyone there, and the O neg CMV neg can
    be given to the babies and children.

    http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/communicable_diseases/en/cytomega.htm

    I have O positive CMV negative, but my wife is O negative
    CMV negative. When one has this type, one gets calls from
    the blood bank, early and often.

    Ive bled 3 gallons so far. At this rate, I will have
    donated my weight in blood before I hit 56. spike



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