Rare blood program

Through the rare blood program, Héma-Québec wants to manage patients who have rare blood and call upon the patients’ families to take part in the family study used for identifying other individuals with rare blood.

With the support of health care professionals, the rare blood program will make it possible to increase and diversify Héma-Québec’s rare blood supply in order to meet the transfusion needs specifically for people with rare blood. To accomplish this, multidisciplinary cooperation is essential.

What is rare blood?

As you know, antigens on the surface of red blood cells determine the blood group. In addition to the ABO and Rh blood group systems, there are over 600 known antigens. An individual’s blood group is considered rare when it is detected in less than 0.1% of the population. Also, some combinations are infrequent, like D+E-c-K-; Fy(a-b-); Jk(b-) and S-.

Having rare blood is not a disease; rare blood is hereditary. Less than 1/1,000 people lack an antigen that is present in most individuals in the population. The erythrocytic phenotype is often associated with an individual’s ethnic origin.

Who needs rare blood?

The prerequisites

Patients with either of these two conditions need rare blood:

• Patients who have developed anti-antigen antibodies (through alloimmunization) and who therefore require more extended compatibility than just ABO/Rh to prevent hemolytic transfusion reactions (absolute need based on the antibody present).
• Patients with rare blood who may develop antibodies against the antigens in the donor’s blood and therefore need rare blood (preventive need).

Your role as a physician

• To inform your patient and give him/her the documentation about rare blood. To support you in your approach, Héma-Québec has produced documentation for patients and their families. It contains simple information for demystifying rare blood, explaining the importance of donating and consenting to the family study.

• To raise awareness To raise awareness among your patients about donating and about the importance of doing the family study; - To explain to them the importance of the rare blood supply; - To inform them that their loved ones or other rare blood donors are the people likely to help him/her in the event that blood transfusions are needed.

• To engage with your patients and have them sign the formulaire de consentement (in French only) so that Héma-Québec can contact them to discuss donations or to encourage contact with their family members as part of the family study and to send it to Héma-Québec. Héma-Québec will follow up with the patients and their family members after receiving the signed consent form.

To send the signed consent to Héma-Québec

• Email : sangrare@hema-quebec.qc.ca
• Fax: 514 527-7900

Do you have questions about our rare blood program?

Don’t hesitate to contact us if you need clarification or if you want to send your patient’s signed consent!

• Phone : 1 800 847-2525, option 3
• Email: sangrare@hema-quebec.qc.ca