Thailand is the most prominent medical hub in Southeast Asia and ranks 5th in the world. It is a mandatory health insurance for expats in Thailand and is required for expats who have non-work visas. If you are new to the region or are staying for an extended period, there is a very good chance that at some point your doctor will ask you to provide a blood sample so that they can type your blood. Knowing your blood type is essential because it could potentially save your life. In this article, we will outline how to know your blood type, why it is important, and why you should care.
What is your blood type?
A person’s blood type is a genetic trait that determines which blood antigens they have on the surface of their red blood cells. These antigens are known as the human leukocyte antigens, or HLA, and they are what determine our blood type. The four major blood types are O, A, B, and AB. Another system of blood type classification is the rhesus system, which is based on the presence or absence of a particular protein on the surface of the red blood cells of rhesus positive (Rh+) and rhesus negative (Rh-) individuals. In short, people can have 8 boold types: B(Rh+), A(Rh+), B(Rh-), A(Rh-), AB(Rh+), AB(Rh-), O(RH-) and O(-).
Knowing Your Blood Type in Thailand: Why It Is Important
Knowing your blood type is important because it determines the type of blood transfusion you will receive. Over 2 million people die from blood transfusions every year. There is a real risk of contracting a disease called transfusion-transmitted infections (TTI) from receiving blood from an incompatible donor. To ensure your safety and ensure you get the right blood type, it is important to know your blood type.
How does knowing your blood type help in a medical crisis?
Let’s say a Thai doctor is administering a blood transfusion to an expat who is suffering from severe blood loss. The doctor will check to see what the blood type of the patient is and then check the blood type of the blood being transfused to the patient. If the blood being transfused to the patient is incompatible with his/her own blood type, then that can trigger an immediate reaction resulting in the patient’s death. It is of utmost importance that when the Thai doctor administers a blood transfusion to the expat, he/she checks both the patient and donor blood types to make sure that no incompatibility exists.
Bottom Line
In its broadest sense, blood type is the classification of blood based on the presence or absence of inherited antigenic substances on the surface of red blood cells. Accidents are unfortunate and unforeseen events. Having accident insurance will lessen the blow by helping you pay for additional medical costs that might otherwise bankrupt you. In the event of a medical emergency, you should think about purchasing a policy that covers expat health in Thailand. Increase your current level of medical protection by enlisting in the best health insurance for expats in Thailand offered by Rabbit Care.