Rare Blood Program

Provincial launch

Héma-Québec has conducted a pilot project with 9 participating hospitals. The pilot project was recently completed and gave way to the provincial launch on June 21, 2023. Through this program, Héma-Québec aims to ensure that patients with rare blood are taken care of, and to engage patients' families in a family study to identify other individuals with rare blood. Thanks to your support, the rare blood program will enable Héma-Québec to increase and diversify its reserve of rare blood to meet the transfusion needs of patients with rare blood. To achieve this, multidisciplinary cooperation is essential.

View Héma-Québec's training session on the rare blood program (only available in french).

What is rare blood?

As you know, the antigens on the surface of red blood cells determine the blood group. In addition to the ABO blood group systems and Rh factor, there are more than 600 known antigens. A person’s blood group is considered rare when it is found in less than 0.1% of the population. In addition, some combinations are less frequent, such as D+E-c-K-; Fy(a-b-); Jk(b-) and S-.

Fewer than 1/1000 people have an antigen that is absent in most individuals in the population. The erythrocyte phenotype is often associated with an individual's ethnic origin.

Informational Capsule: What is rare blood (FR)

Who needs rare blood?

Pre-exciting conditions

Patients who present with one or other of these two conditions need rare blood:

• Patients who have developed antibodies against antigens (through alloimmunization) and who, consequently, need broader compatibility than simply ABO/Rh to prevent hemolytic transfusion reactions (absolute need based on the antibody present).
• Patients with rare blood who could develop antibodies against the known antigens in the donor’s blood and, consequently, need rare blood (preventative need).

Your role as a physician

• Inform and give your patient written information about rare blood. - To support you, Héma-Québec has produced a document intended for patients and their family. It contains simple information meant to demystify rare blood, explain the importance of blood donation and consent to a family study.

• Raise awareness about blood donation and the importance of a family study with your patient. - Explain the importance of the rare blood bank. - Inform your patient that loved ones and other rare blood donors can help when blood transfusions are needed.

• Commit and ask your patient to sign the consent form so that Héma-Québec can contact him or her to donate blood or encourage outreach to family members as part of the family study and forward it to Héma-Québec.

Download the form: ENR-03751 –Rare blood program – consent form

Héma-Québec will follow up with the patient and family one it receives the signed consent form (ENR-03751 - Rare blood program - consent form).

Forward the signed consent form to Héma-Québec by:

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

Informational Capsule: The Rare Blood Program (FR)

Download the documents

• Information Guide for Physicians
• Information intended for persons with a rare blood type and their family

Have questions regarding our Rare Blood Program?

Do not hesitate to contact us if you need more information or if you wish to send your patient's signed consent!

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