NHS on the hunt for ‘precision-matched' blood donors
The blood from donors with rare blood types will be collected and frozen so it can be used to help other people with the same type of blood.
It will also be available should the donor be in a situation where they themselves need a blood transfusion.
The new drive to find precision-matched blood donors comes to help people who are at risk of blood transfusion side effects.
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) said that blood matching is 'vital' due to the complexity of blood groups – there are 362 known blood types.
So far its scientists have DNA-tested the blood types of 77,000 donors as part of a research project.
This is the first time that blood types have been DNA tested in the UK at-scale, NHSBT said.
Dozens of rare blood donors have been identified during the process and it is hoped the number will rise to hundreds.
This means that blood from these donors can be used as 'personalised, precision-matched transfusion' for those in need.
This can help avoid severe transfusion reactions – where the body sees the transfused blood as 'foreign' and rejects it.
People who are particularly at risk of these reactions are those who regularly receive blood donations including those with sickle cell disorder and thalassaemia.
Experts hailed the project as the 'first major step' towards rolling out precision-matched blood more widely.
Dr Gail Miflin, chief medical officer at NHSBT, said: 'Taking these 77,000 donors and testing their blood to such a precise level has been an incredible undertaking and will work to significantly change the way we issue blood – especially to those patients at higher risk of transfusion related reactions.
'We will be able to match to an increasing number of blood groups, ensuring that patients have blood that is most similar to their own and reducing the risk of any reactions. It is an example of just how we are driving innovation which can radically improve patient outcomes.'
NHSBT's genomics programme director, Kate Downes, added: 'This inventory of blood will enhance our capacity to find units with rare blood groups for difficult to match patients as well as provide better matched units for patients who have an increased risk of transfusion reactions, aiding us in our mission to save and improve even more lives.
'This genotyping is a first major step towards rolling out precision matched blood more widely, which would be a landmark change in how blood is matched.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
My blood pressure has been flagged as pre-diabetic – what should I do?
OUR resident specialist and NHS GP, Dr Zoe Williams, shares her expert advice. Today, Dr Zoe helps a reader whose blood pressure was flagged as pointing to pre diabetic levels during a routine health check. 2 Q) I RECENTLY had my free health check and my blood pressure was flagged as pointing to pre-diabetic levels. The high number was 126, and the lower number was 86. My health practice advised me to take statins. Could they help? Any other advice? A) IT is great to hear that you had your health check. They are so important because they help you identify silent but dangerous issues with your blood pressure, blood sugar or cholesterol levels. Your blood pressure results seem OK, but it would be a good idea to still look at measures to prevent it getting any higher. Being pre-diabetic relates to a higher-than- normal level of sugar, or glucose, in the blood. It should be taken as a warning sign that you need to make some lifestyle changes. Aim for 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week and eat a healthy and balanced diet, focusing on limiting ultra-processed foods, alcohol and sugary drinks. If you're a smoker, seek support to quit. Statins are medicines used to treat high cholesterol levels and, in doing so, reduce your risk of developing a heart attack or stroke in the future. The good news, though, is that the same lifestyle changes that will help bring down your blood sugar and blood pressure will also help your cholesterol too, and might mean you don't need to take statins.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
From a dog's fear of rain to a cat's frequent hairballs – your pet queries answered
HE is on a mission to help our pets . . . and is here to answer YOUR questions. Sean, who is the head vet at tailored pet food firm has helped with owners' queries for ten years. 4 4 Q) MY dog Petra refuses to go out in the rain. He's a 50kg crossbreed and loves his walks — yet as soon as the heavens open, he won't budge out the front door except to pee quickly. How can I persuade him wet walks are fun? Steve Brain, Manchester A) Maybe you can't. Every dog is different — they all have their own little quirks and eccentricities. Saying that, most can be convinced that something they previously feared or found unpleasant can be less of a big deal than they thought. Plenty of reward-based training and bribery with food may help Petra learn that rain means fun and treats. It's a well-used behavioural modification trick called counter conditioning — training your dog to associate something previously negative with something positive. If you are consistent, I bet you can make Petra do a happy rain dance. If not, don't push it. We can train behaviour, but rarely emotions. Q) ALTHOUGH I brush her every day, my cat Merlin gets terrible hairballs. World's Oldest Tortoise Jonathan Package - Joe Hollins She's a Norwegian Forest cat. Is there anything you can recommend? Kate Armstrong, Bradford A) Brushing is key but, in long haired breeds, we can't get away from the fact they are swallowing more hair than a normal coated cat. No offence to Norwegian Forest cats or their owners, but it's another example of us tinkering with our pets' genetics for the appearance of a breed we find appealing. Yet it leaves them more prone to health issues. Anyway, you can get products, usually in a tasty oral paste format, which help lubricate hairballs and have them pass out in the poop rather than build up in the stomach. Ask your vet for a recommendation based on Merlin's needs and history. Q) BOB, my lizard, has struggled to shed around the eyes. I have a big enclosure, plenty of enrichment, a humid area and maintain temperature. What else can I do? Steve Black, Doncaster A) You've left out a few bits of information. Firstly, what species of lizard? That's crucial to understanding what environmental conditions they experience in the wild. Your lizard has retained skin, so there is certainly a humidity problem and possibly incorrect temperature, too. I often recommend having a really humid damp hide box for reptiles to go into and seek out higher humidity when needed so they can shed well. Your vet can help remove retained skin. Q) WHEN we are on walks, my one-year-old rescue Labrador Barny barks at motorcycles. How can I stop him as it's stressful? I think it must be the noise. Mark Thomas, Bristol A) It sure is, and either he finds it really exciting so wants to join in with the racket or, more likely, it makes him anxious. If Barny is afraid of something, his instinct tells him to bark at it and hopefully that will fend it off. What happens when a dog barks at the postman coming to the door? The postman delivers the mail and takes off down the street. Peace and order are restored. The dog thinks they've done a great job guarding the home. Same with motorbikes — they appear, Barny barks, they whizz away. Job done! So you need to get him used to motorbikes from a distance and reward him when he doesn't bark at them any more, gradually increasing exposure over time. Star of the week HOMELESS kittens Bill and Barb survived against the odds after they got trapped next to boiling hot water pipes while hiding in a shed. The five-week-old pair became wedged in a gap which contained the pipes and wiring for a property in Truro, Cornwall. When the homeowner spotted them, he rang Cats Protection. Jasmine Nevitte from the charity's rescue team said: 'Amazingly, Barb didn't have any significant burns, but Bill burnt his bottom quite badly. 'He is now on antibiotics and needs daily bathing and close monitoring. 'But although they are shaken up, both of them are doing well – they are little stars.' WIN: £339 LAWNMOWER TO help keep grass trim for our four-legged pals, we're giving away a lawn mower worth £339, in conjunction with outdoor power equipment brand Husqvarna. The winner will also receive two adult and two child tickets to CarFest at Laverstoke Park Farm, Hants, where the brand will be showing off its animal-friendly goods from August 22 to 24. For a chance to win, send an email headed CARFEST to sundaypets@ by July 27. Check out T&Cs apply. GET SOME PUPPY LOVE ON YOGA RETREAT 4 BRITAIN is seeing a boom in yoga retreats where you can get into a downward dog with your pup. Dubbed 'Doga', dog yoga videos have had 228.9million views on TikTok. There are classes across the country, from Bude in Cornwall to London, Manchester and Edinburgh. Yoga teacher Camilla Sheeley, who runs a retreat at Down Hall Hotel in Bishop's Stortford, Essex, with her six-year-old golden working cocker spaniel Mitch, says it has become a staycation trend of 2025. She said of classes: 'They offer a fun-filled way to connect with your canine companion and are suitable for all breeds. "The humans stretch, balance, mobilise and breathe deeply, while your dog gets to join the fun, whether by chilling out beside you, mimicking your moves or (as most prefer) climbing on you or giving you plenty of enthusiastic licks. "It's a laughter-filled way to deepen your bond, move your body and create unforgettable memories. 'Mitch nails his downward dog and often balances on my knee during warrior poses. 'Our next retreat in August has already sold out because doga is now so popular. We are now arranging the next one.'
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Tattoos can boost body positivity and even heal trauma, mental health experts say
THE great British High Street may be in decline but there's one type of shop that is still firmly making its mark – the tattoo parlour. In the past decade the number of inking businesses has soared from 1,637 to 3,394 — up 107 per cent — and 14million of us now have one, nearly a third of all adults. 5 5 5 The tattoo market was worth around £659million in 2023, rising to £702million in 2024. Experts say that although tattoos may seem unsightly to some, for those who have them, they can boost positivity, provide a sense of security, help people cope with depression and even help to heal childhood trauma. Dr Mark Griffiths, Distinguished Professor of Behavioural Addiction at Nottingham Trent University, told The Sun on Sunday: 'Most people who get tattoos experience positive benefits. 'For example, someone who is experiencing depression or anxiety may feel empowered by a tattoo, or view it as a way of demonstrating control in their life. 'Bad infections' 'A tattoo can help some individuals feel better about their body and help them feel as though they are part of a community. 'Tattoos may help promote body positivity, boost self-confidence and, for a minority, help to lower stress levels. "For a small minority, tattoos may also be a symbol for trauma survivors, for example of PTSD, sexual assault and healing from childhood trauma.' Derby-based tattooist Kevin Paul, who has inked dozens of celebrities including Ed Sheeran, Harry Styles, Lady Gaga and Rhianna, says that being tattooed is so 'powerful' it is like a medicine to some. He said: 'People use tattoos now as a therapy or a way to bring families closer or to mourn the loss of a loved one. "A lot of people have tattoos to mark traumatic things they have been through. I'm tattooed all over & even removed my NOSE to keep in a little jar… people can't believe the difference 4 years makes 'The majority of people I see are using it as some form of therapy. 'I had a customer with a history of self-harm and when I covered her scars she said it gave her her life back.' Prices for a tattoo start at £50 for a tiny design but can rise to well over £2,000 for a larger work covering the limbs or back — and there is no shortage of takers. The UK currently ranks as the third most-inked nation in the world, accounting for almost eight per cent of all tattoos globally and we are only out-tatted by the US and Germany. However, the trend has also led to a rise in unqualified and inexperienced would-be 'artists' cashing in. Unlicensed tattoo artists, often referred to as 'scratchers', operate outside legal regulations and do not register with their local said: 'Tattooing is being pulled apart by everyone thinking they can just have a go. 'People will go to the closest and normally cheapest place so it's much harder for real, trained artists to get customers through the door. 'There will be a lot of people needing cover-ups [of bad work] in the future. 5 5 "Hygiene should be the biggest part of your training, but I have seen so many bad infections come from dodgy tattooists who don't know what they are doing.' Research last year suggested that as many as four in ten of us had considered getting a tattoo removed. The most likely reason is going off the design, poor quality, fading work or having made an impulsive decision to begin with. And another expert warned that getting tattoos may not always combat major self-esteem issues. Aleksandra Pamphlett, a psychotherapist specialising in body image, said: 'I've had many patients describe their tattoos as part of their healing journey — daily reminders of survival, identity, hope and self-worth. 'There have been quite a few studies suggesting that body modifications can serve as a coping mechanism or form of self-expression for people with trauma histories. 'IT'S MY LIFE STORY IN PICTURES' TATTOO fan Chesney Wright, 29, has spent more than £4,000 on her 200 inkings, which she describes as her 'life in pictures'. The mum-of-three, from Grantham, Lincs, admits some are 'horrified' by her heavily inked look but she has no plans to stop. Chesney said: 'I've been told the tatts are disgusting. That I'm a bad example to other women and a bad mum. Tattoos are like Marmite, you love them or hate them – I'm obsessed with them. 'OAPs are often horrified and tell me off, but I just smile sweetly. My body art is my history.' Ex-barber Chesney has tattoos of everything from a ghost to SpongeBob. She added: 'Most women get flowers and butterflies – I have a different approach. Each tattoo holds a story of love, happiness, mother- hood, sometimes grief.' 'Most of my patients with tattoos related to past trauma found them helpful and empowering, but there was one case where the tattoo became a painful reminder — less a symbol of healing, more a flashback to a time they wanted to move past.' Anna Woolley spent years struggling with substance addiction and poor mental health, leaving her with scars on her arms that were so obvious she was ridiculed about them while shopping in Primark. It led the 35-year-old to cover them with a 'sleeve' design with butterflies and branches in 2016. The move gave her such new-found confidence she is now preparing to become a support worker in a rehab clinic to help others. She told the Sun on Sunday: 'I'd gone through a lot of past trauma and I'd caused damage to my arms from lashing out during night terrors over several years. 'I just felt horrific, I was so full of self-doubt. 'Before getting the tattoos I wouldn't have dreamed of wearing a T-shirt but now I wear what I want to. People say it's just a tattoo but it's changed my life.'
