Rare Donors Resources

The International Rare Donor Panel (IRDP) was conceived under a joint World Health Organisation (WHO) and ISBT initiative in 1965 to facilitate the rapid location and exchange of rare blood between countries. The panel currently contains details of rare donors from 27 contributing countries and also frozen unit inventories from frozen blood banks around the world.

The compilation and maintenance of the IRDP is carried out by The International Blood Group Reference Laboratory (IBGRL) in Bristol, UK and the IRDP database can be accessed by authorised users via the website https://ibgrl.blood.co.uk/services/international-rare-donor-panel/.

Access is restricted to medical professionals who may be required to source rare blood for clinical use only. All access requests should be made by email to the IBGRL ([email protected]) and staff at the IBGRL will also be happy to assist with a search when required.

DGTI represents Transfusion Medicine in the German-speaking countries (Austria, Switzerland and Germany). DGTI comprises a WP on rare blood groups (Arbeitsgruppe "Seltene Blutgruppen").

Their website supports colleagues in their search for rare blood providing links to national and international institutions with stocks of rare blood or registries of rare donors. The website also deals with the current rare blood challenges; this information is partially in English.

To register Rare Donors on the DGTI's Registry, click here.

Did you know that some people’s blood is rarer than others?

It’s not just about being type A, B, O or AB. On the surface of our red blood cells are proteins called antigens. There are more than 600 known antigens — and some combinations of antigens are far less common than others.
Whenever a blood transfusion is required, time is of the essence. But if someone in need has rare blood, finding a matching donor can be hard.

Through our Rare Blood Program, we make sure lifesaving rare blood is available to patients whenever and wherever it’s needed.  

http://rareblood.blood.ca/

The link in Spain that interested people could consult is that of the Spanish Transfusion Society (SETS), where the donors that are part of our registry and the available cryopreserved units are shown annually. 

https://www.sets.es/index.php/h-fenotipo-poco-comun 

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