German health officials stress importance of knowing blood type

Experts from the German Red Cross blood‑donation service explain that not knowing one’s blood group poses no immediate danger, but awareness can be crucial in emergencies such as surgery, severe injury or chemotherapy. When rapid testing is unavailable, universal donor blood (type 0 negative) is used, though only about 6 % of the population has this type.

Stephan David Küpper, press spokesman, says, “It would actually be good if more people knew their blood group,” because knowledge can motivate donations, especially among O‑negative donors. The blood type can be established via a quick test at a doctor’s office (often costing €25‑35) or for free when registering as a blood donor, with the result recorded in a digital donor passport. Pregnant women also learn their type through routine checks in the mother‑pass.

The advice underscores that while lack of knowledge is not a risk itself, determining the blood group is essential whenever it influences medical treatment, and increased awareness could improve the supply of the highly demanded O‑negative blood.