Who Has the Rarest Golden Blood?

So who are the rare, lucky few that have rhnull blood running through their veins? Known as "golden blood," rhnull is the rarest blood type on Earth, found in only around 43 people worldwide. But what makes rhnull so special, and why is it worth its weight in gold to medical professionals? Read on to learn all about golden blood.

A Crash Course on Blood Types

Before getting into the coveted rhnull, let‘s do a quick overview of how blood types work. Your blood type comes down to the antigens present on the surface of your red blood cells. Antigens are proteins that can trigger an immune response. The most well known blood group system is the Rh group.

The Rh group consists of five main antigens: D, C, c, E, and e. If you have the RhD antigen, you are Rh positive. Lack it, and you‘re Rh negative. About 85% of people are Rh positive worldwide. But it varies by ethnicity – only 1% of Asians are Rh negative compared to 15% of Caucasians.

Your Rh status is inherited from your parents. You need to inherit two recessive genes to end up Rh negative. Because Rh positive is a dominant trait, if you inherit one RhD gene, you‘ll be Rh positive.

All in all, there are over 300 known blood group antigens. But Rh gets the most attention because mismatching between Rh negative and positive blood can cause severe complications.

So where does super rare rhnull come in? Keep reading!

The Rarity of rhnull Blood

Rhnull blood is so rare because individuals with it lack all 61 possible antigens in the Rh system. Their red blood cells do not display a single Rh antigen.

This exceedingly rare blood type was first discovered back in 1961 in an Aboriginal Australian woman. Since then, only 43 people worldwide have been confirmed to have rhnull blood.

To have rhnull blood, you need to inherit two deleted or inactive copies of the RhD gene – one from each parent. The odds of this happening are estimated to be 1 in 6 million. That‘s why rhnull is one of the rarest blood types on record.

What Makes rhnull So Precious

So what‘s the big deal about rhnull? Why is it referred to as "golden blood"? Here‘s why this rare blood is so valuable:

Because rhnull blood lacks any Rh antigens, it can act as a "universal" blood for anyone with a rare blood type in the Rh system. Even if a patient‘s blood type is unknown in an emergency, rhnull can safely be transfused without adverse reactions.

This life-saving capability makes rhnull invaluable in crisis situations. Until a patient‘s actual blood type is identified, rhnull acts as a temporary transfusion to buy critical time.

People who are rhnull can still produce antibodies to Rh and other blood groups they lack. But because their blood has no Rh antigens, it can be safely transferred to recipients with other Rh types. It‘s the O negative of the rare blood world – the universal giver.

To emphasize how rare yet powerful rhnull is, researchers estimate that only 1 out of every 6 million people in the US have it. Yet ANYONE, regardless of their blood type, can receive rhnull blood. That‘s what makes it so priceless.

Who Are Some Famous rhnull People?

Because there are so few rhnull people known worldwide, some have made headlines over the years:

• The first rhnull case was that Australian Aboriginal woman found in 1961. Her blood helped alert researchers to this ultra rare type.

• One famous rhnull person was a man in England who was stabbed in the 1970s. Doctors issued a nationwide alert to track down more people with his life-saving blood to treat him.

• In 2018, an Indian man with rhnull blood dubbed "The Man with the Golden Arm" donated blood to over 2.5 million people. He helped raise awareness of the need for rare blood donors.

• There is also a young girl in Malaysia with rhnull blood who has already donated blood to save leukemia patients. She‘s one of only two known rhnull individuals in that country.

How rhnull Blood Is Inherited

For someone to have rhnull blood, they need to inherit two deleted or inactive Rh genes – one from each parent. Both parents must at least carry one rhnull gene.

If one parent is rhnull and the other lacks any rhnull genes, then the child will have rhnull. But if both parents are rhnull carriers, there is a 25% chance their child will be rhnull, a 50% chance they‘ll be a carrier, and 25% chance they‘ll be rh positive.

The rhnull gene can be passed down silently through generations. But if cousins or other relatives marry, the chances of inheriting two rhnull genes increases, and rare cases of rhnull may arise. Most cases have occurred in very isolated populations.

How Blood Transfusions Work

Understanding why rhnull is so valuable requires knowing a bit about how blood transfusions work. During a transfusion, a compatible donor‘s blood is transferred to a recipient through an IV line. It then circulates to replace lost blood and transport oxygen.

Compatibility is crucial, or else the recipient‘s antibodies may react to the donor blood cells by clumping together leading to potentially deadly blockages.

O negative blood can be transfused universally because it has neither A or B antigens, and it lacks RhD. AB positive blood is considered the universal receiver because it has both A and B antigens.

But in rare cases, people may lack all A, B, and Rh antigens. This is when ultra rare rhnull comes to the rescue as a universal blood type. It slips under the radar of the recipient‘s antibodies.

The Value of Golden Blood

Because of its unparalleled rarity and lifesaving abilities, rhnull blood is considered priceless. However, some estimates place the value of one vial of rhnull at over $60,000!

There is no central supply of rhnull. The handful of people confirmed to have it are located sporadically across the globe. There is no guarantee donors will be available when an rhnull transfusion is needed.

Therefore, ironically, while rhnull can be a universal blood for so many recipients, tracking down golden blood itself can be incredibly challenging. The search sometimes becomes dramatic – like tracking down donors in the middle of the night to save a trauma patient.

For this reason, rhnull donors are highly encouraged to register with rare donor programs through their local blood center. Their contact information can then be shared if their blood is ever required.

How Common Blood Types Impact Health

Beyond just emergencies, your blood type can impact day to day health:

• People with type O blood may have lower risks of heart disease and blood clots. But they face higher risks of stomach ulcers.

• Those with types A, B or AB blood may have increased risks of heart disease or clots, but reduced stomach ulcer risk.

• Expectant mothers who are Rh negative may develop Rh incompatibility with their Rh positive fetuses, possibly causing serious issues.

• Some research indicates people with type A blood produce more stress hormones, while those with type O have reduced stress hormones.

The reasons are still being researched, but it highlights that our mundane blood types can significantly influence health.

Don‘t Know Your Blood Type? Get Tested!

With all this talk of rare blood, you may be wondering about your own type. If you don‘t know your type, ask your doctor for a quick blood test.

Knowing if you‘re O, A, B, or AB positive or negative is important. It can impact what blood you can receive and how you donate. (Though if you have an exceedingly rare type like rhnull, you probably are already aware!)

Blood Donations Are Always Needed

Whether you have common type O positive or rare golden blood, blood donations help save lives. Only about 3% of the population donates. Yet blood is needed constantly for surgeries, cancer treatments, chronic conditions, and injuries.

Please consider becoming a donor if you‘re able. You can provide the gift of life with just a few minutes of your time. Those with golden blood can get involved with special programs to be on call as donors.

Our blood may seem ordinary. But in truth it‘s extraordinary and vital. Blood cannot be manufactured – it can only come from generous volunteers. Next time you get the chance, please donate!