Matching matters. Diversity in donation is important for improved patient outcomes, as rare and uncommon blood types are often found in similar ethnic populations.

• Blood type is inherited; therefore, a compatible donor is often someone of a similar ethnic background.
• Sickle cell patients may require chronic blood transfusions to treat their disease, for example. Since 44% of African Americans also have Ro blood, providing matched Ro blood to sickle cell patients may provide a safer blood transfusion.
• Increasing diversity in our donors improves the chances of finding a match and may be the difference between life and death for a patient in need.

In short, a more ethnically diverse donor base will save more lives. Be a diversity champion and donate blood today. 

Anemia is the most common blood disorder in the United States. It affects your red blood cells and hemoglobin, which is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. You need iron in order to make hemoglobin. Most people who have anemia have a shortage of iron, or iron deficiency anemia. The prevalence of iron deficiency anemia is 2% in adult men, 9-12% in non-Hispanic white women, and nearly 20% in black and Mexican-American women.

A Versiti Blood Research Institute team led by Alan E. Mast, MD, PhD, Senior Investigator, participates in the National Institutes of Health’s REDS (Recipient Epidemiology and Donor Evaluation Study) program. Its previous findings have advanced knowledge on blood donors and recipients, including iron levels in donors.