Red Liquid Gold

Precious Blood: Your “blood type” is determined by what antigens are present in it. The rarest blood type in the world is called “Rh null”--or the golden blood type. Identified in fewer than 50 people worldwide, it can be donated to anyone – but someone with golden blood can only receive transfusions of their own ultra-rare blood type. –medicinenet.com

You read it first in The Factory in Guide magazine.

Disclaimer: Most people have no problem talking or reading about this subject. However, there are about 15% of people who faint at the sight of blood. So, if you are one of those people who get queasy even reading about it, you may want to pass on this one.

Blood – our vital life force; without it we cannot survive. Among other things, it carries oxygen (what we breathe) throughout our bodies, helps us fight off disease and helps our body heal itself. That’s why, down through the years, medical scientists have figured out how to collect, define types, store and provide blood transfusions to those in need.

If we were to break down the different parts of our blood, we would have red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma.  Red blood cells are the food delivery trucks and trash trucks of our body. With the help of the flowing plasma, they deliver oxygen (food) to all organs, and then they pick up carbon dioxide (trash) and bring it to our lungs to exhale out.

The white blood cells are like soldiers, they defend our bodies from anything dangerous like germs and infections. Imagine some germs floating by or you have a cut, the white cell soldiers gang up on the bad guys and destroy them so they are no longer a threat. 

Then, there are the platelets, these help our body to heal if we get a cut or open wound. They group together to stop up the bleeding, and they cause a scab to form until the healthy tissue can be built up again.

Lastly, plasma which is the main liquid that keeps things flowing. This yellowish fluid is mostly made up of water, but it’s also packed with nutrients, hormones, and proteins.

Red blood cells have sugars and proteins known as Rhesus (Rh) factors called antigens on their surface membranes. Blood is classified as being either "Rh positive" (meaning it has Rh factor) or "Rh negative" (without Rh factor).   

Each red blood cell has up to 342 antigens on its surface. These antigens belong to 35 blood group systems, of which the ‘Rhesus’ system is the largest with 61 antigens. And it’s the absence of certain antigens that determines a person’s blood type.

Most people have some type of Rhesus antigens. However, there are those rare few who have no Rh antigens in their blood. The rarest blood type in the world is called “Rh null”--or the golden blood type. With its complete lack of Rh antigens, it can be accepted by anyone with a rare blood type within the Rh blood system. So far, it has been identified in fewer than 50 people worldwide, making it invaluable!

Usually blood donors remain anonymous, however, if someone with this type of blood should donate they will automatically become very famous to the science world! Right now, there is never enough of this type of precious liquid for research. The more doctors can learn about this newest blood type, the more people they can help and save.

This reminds me of another Person who has very special blood - Jesus. Do you know the song, “There is Power in the Blood”? It’s so true! There is great saving power in the blood of Jesus. We can all be thankful for Jesus’ eternal, life-giving blood no matter what blood type we are!

—Carol Lyons, Assistant
Discovery Mountain