US Trends

whats ro blood type

“Ro blood type” is not a separate main blood group like A, B, AB, or O – it’s a specific subtype within Rh‑positive blood, defined by a particular Rh antigen pattern called Dce.

Quick Scoop: What is Ro blood type?

When people say “Ro blood type,” they mean red blood cells that have:

  • The D antigen (Rh positive)
  • The c antigen
  • The e antigen
  • And do not have the C or E antigens

This combination is called the Dce haplotype in the Rh system and is nicknamed Ro.

So Ro isn’t its own letter like “type Ro”; it sits on top of the usual ABO type:

  • You can be A+, B+, O+, or AB+ with the Ro subtype.
  • Your “regular” blood type still looks like A+, O+, etc.; Ro is extra detail behind the scenes.

In simple terms: Ro = a particular “flavor” of Rh‑positive blood, not a whole new blood group.

How common is Ro?

Ro is normal but relatively uncommon overall, and more frequent in some communities.

  • It’s perfectly healthy and normal , not a disease or defect.
  • Ro is especially common among people of African descent , and is more often seen in Black patients with sickle cell disease.
  • Because sickle cell patients often need repeated transfusions, hospitals actively look for Ro donors so they can match them closely and reduce complications.

Blood services in the UK and US highlight Ro as a “special” type mainly because:

  • Demand is high in certain patient groups.
  • Matching Ro patients with Ro donors lowers the risk of antibodies that can attack transfused cells.

Why do doctors care about Ro?

From a clinical point of view, Ro matters most for transfusions and pregnancy care.

Key points:

  • People with Ro can form antibodies against C or E antigens if they receive mismatched blood, which can cause haemolytic transfusion reactions (transfused cells get destroyed).
  • In pregnancy, Rh and other antibodies can sometimes lead to haemolytic disease of the newborn , so detailed Rh typing (including subtypes like Ro) helps manage risk.
  • For Ro patients who need regular transfusions (for example, with sickle cell), blood banks try to match D, c, and e carefully to avoid long‑term complications.

For everyday life, having Ro changes nothing. It only really shows up as important if you donate blood, need a transfusion, or are in certain specialist pregnancy/haematology settings.

Ro vs Rh‑null (the “golden blood”)

Ro sometimes gets mentioned next to “Rh‑null,” but they’re very different.

  • Ro :
    • Has D, c, e antigens (Dce).
    • Fairly common in some populations.
    • Normal red cell function.
  • Rh‑null :
    • Has no Rh antigens at all.
    • Extremely rare (dozens of known people worldwide).
    • Can cause anaemia and major transfusion challenges.

People sometimes confuse these, but Ro is not the ultra‑rare “golden blood”; it’s a needed but not one‑in‑a‑billion subtype.

Mini FAQ

Is Ro a rare blood type?

  • It’s uncommon overall , but relatively more frequent in people of African and some other ancestries.
  • Blood services still call it “special” because supply often can’t keep up with demand from Ro patients.

Can you tell your blood is Ro just from “O+” or “A+” on a card?

  • No. You need extended Rh typing to see if your Rh pattern is Dce (Ro) or another subtype.

Does Ro change your ABO type?

  • No. You are still A, B, AB, or O; Ro just describes the Rh pattern on top of that.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.