If I need a blood transfusion, can I get it from my husband? We are the same blood type?

I'm not sure if I know what my Rh factor is. I believe he is A+. Is the positive part the Rh factor? I think I might have it, too.

Does anyone know how I would go about this if I needed a transfusion? Also, he can't give blood into the public supply because he lived in Europe, and they don't let people from there give it because of mad cow disease. But could he still give it directly to me? Personally I'd rather take the very small risk of mad cow disease (the country he's from doesn't have it) than get HIV or something else if the blood from the public isn't screened well enough -- I also am not sure if they can really screen the blood 100 percent for HIV and other things that may not show right away. But I am not sure. Feel free to enlighten me on this. I am not being discriminatory, just trying to protect my own health, which is fragile enough as it is.

Thanks for any genuine answers.

I believe it is discouraged that boyfriends/husbands give blood to their girlfriends/wives.

Even if you are the same blood type, the introduction of his blood in you may create antibodies (sort of like a vaccination). And if you are ever pregnant with his child, then those antibodies could attack the fetus. I think there is more to blood-matching than just the + that goes after the letter.

I don't think he can donate to the general public, though I believe it only stops you if you've been in a particular area. I don't even think they will let me do a direct donation to you. But on top of those, if you ever want to have kids/anymore kids, the blood bank will not allow him to direct blood to you regardless of whether the Mad Cow thing can be overlooked.

I wish I could offer some more comfort regarding the integrity of public blood. They do run HIV tests, so the chance of infection is extremely low.

Hope this helps, and best of luck w/the transfusion.

There are federal guidelines that must be followed to give blood. If your husband cannot give to the general public, I doubt he could give to you either, but.... the best way to get this answered correctly is to ask your physician or call your local Red Cross Agency.