Testing your blood type at home is easy, simple and quick. Getting the wrong results, however, could have catastrophic results. If you ever find yourself in a situation that requires this information, you want to be 100% sure of your answer.
Nobody wants to think about the worst-case scenario, but if we ever need urgent surgery or transfusion, the wrong information can have serious repercussions. That is why it is important to check for the precedence and quality of the tests you get.
We’ve done the hard work for you, and found the best home blood type test kits that you can buy today. They are safe for use in children any age, provided that an adult is helping them, and are easy to find.
Ready to discover your blood type?
Table of Contents
Best Home Blood Type Test Kit
The 2 Pack Eldoncard Blood Type Test
This is the most traditional blood test kit to get. It comes with two lancets, two swabs, two cotton balls, two alcohol pads, pipettes, and Eldoncards. The best part is that they are packed separately inside the big package, meaning that two people can do the test at different times.
It also means that, if for any reason you don’t get the test right on the first time you can easily and safely redo it. It was wise of Eldoncard to do that, especially considering that this is a very delicate and specific test.
The kit comes with a set of instructions, but there is also a very informative video on the product’s website. If you haven’t performed these kinds of tests before, it can be easy to misuse the tools.
If you also don’t know how you bleed you may need a couple tries to get the drops right, and watching a video can help with that.
The card and the pack are well made and with clear symbols and writing. You will see four circles – green, red, yellow and blue. Each is destined for a drop of blood and each has an antigen for a type of blood and will react accordingly.
If you want to keep your results, the kit comes with a clear sticker plastic to cover the card, then you can store it or keep it handy.
The 5 Pack Blood Type Test Eldoncard
If you need to test more than two people, it is much more worth it to purchase the five pack testing kit. It works just as the regular kit, but with enough materials for five tests.
Each kit is packaged separately, so you don’t need to open and do them all at the same time, but can keep them and use them one at a time. Some people keep their results stored with their id or first aid kit. That is a great idea since it can be easily accessed by a medical person or anyone who would need it in an emergency.
Thinking of that, the company included laminating sheets in the package, so you can laminate them and keep them.
It is important to notice that, since the reagents are dry on the card, you should scrape the circles and thoroughly mix the blood with the dry reagents.
Before doing that, moist the circles with some water to release them – but only right before mixing the blood in. Otherwise, the results may be inaccurate.
Each kit will come with a card, a lancet, a small plastic stick, a water dropper, and the instructions. This is a great option to discover the blood type of the whole family!
The 3 Pack Eldoncard Blood Type Test
Eldoncard really does its best to provide us with as many choices as possible, so you can get tests for the exact number of people you need.
This comes with three separate kits, as usual, you can open them one by one and even gift them to someone else, as they are individually packed. This is also a great option for teachers and would be a great addition to any sciences class.
If you are worried about the needle part, don’t be. Even young children perform this test with no problem. There are a few tips to draw blood more efficiently, such as make sure you don’t have cold fingers and choosing a very soft skin part with no calluses.
The lancet works in a way that makes the best hole to draw blood, without actually damaging the skin much. Your finger will heal quickly too!
When placing the drop of blood on the circle, try to place it in between the small circle and the big circle, inside the ring. That, combined with proper mixing and scraping, will give you faster and more accurate results.
Always make sure to read the instructions and, if you have any coagulation problem or chronic diseases, it is best to consult with your doctor before doing any home tests.
The Original Home Blood Type Test
This inexpensive, easy to use, one-time blood test kit is one of the best choices if you want something affordable and that gives you results in just six minutes. It will tell you both your blood type (A, B, AB, or O) and your Rh (positive or negative).
A good tip is to prick your finger right on the tip, instead of the pad. In that way, when you turn your hand upside down gravity will do most of the job. Just slightly press the wound and enough blood will come out.
Most of the problems related to wrong results can be traced back to misuse or blood contamination. Not letting the drop of blood touch anything else or even mixing with the blood on the other circles will ensure you are using your home blood type test kit to its best potential.
Read the instructions thoroughly and perform the test calmly and this is the perfect kit for one person’s use.
Blood Type Kit by Medical Research Networx
If you go for this pack, you will get two blood typing cards (like the Eldoncard one) in a resealable foil pouch, one dropper bottle, two prep pads, six blood sticks (used to carry the blood from your fingertip to the card) and six lancets.
The instructions are not as clear as they could be, so we recommend looking for videos or similar products manuals. The lancets are painless and small, but some were reported to break upon usage.
The Eldoncard is still the most user-friendly and best home blood type test kit, but if you can’t find it you can give this one a try. The results are quite accurate and clear to read.
Buying Guide for the Best Home Blood Type Test Kit
Components
Blood test kits must contain an Eldoncard and a lancet, at least. Most also include cleaning alcohol, cotton pad and come in a sealed bag. The lancet will be used to pinch and make a tiny hole on top of your finger, and blood will come out.
Most people report that, surprisingly, the lancet doesn’t cause any pain, and that it is easy to draw enough blood by massaging the tip of your finger after the pinch. The Endoncard is the most important part of the test since it is embedded with the chemical components that discover the blood type.
Kits that have a cotton pad and cleansing alcohol are especially good – it is important to thoroughly clean the skin before any incisions are made.
Blood type and Rh
When discussing blood types, you want to know not only the type (A, B, O, AB) but also the Rh, or rhesus. Rhesus is a protein you can inherit or not from your antecessors. If you do, you are Rh-positive. If you don’t, you are Rh-negative.
The most common type is positive. It is important to check for a total blood match in cases of transfusion or pregnancy, so a test that checks for blood type and Rh is ideal.
Convenience and ease of use
The whole point of a home blood test is that you are able to do it yourself, in your house and with quick results. If the kit has too many steps, too many components or if it does not provide instant results, then it would be better to just go to a test center.
Read the instructions before buying and go for a simple, quick and reliable home blood type test kit.
As with all medical and testing procedures, it is paramount to consult your doctor before any decisions are made. Home blood type test kits are designed as a fun experiment for kids, curiosity settles and information gathering.
It is always wise to conduct a lab test prescribed by a doctor if you require surgery or have any previous health issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Eldoncard?
The Eldoncard is embedded with dried antibodies. There are different colored patches on the card, with the different antibodies that will react with the blood and thus show the blood type.
It is important to draw enough blood for the reaction to happen and to not let the blood in the four different patches mix.
What does it mean if I am Rh-negative?
Do not worry, there are no serious repercussions of not having the Rh protein in the blood. The only time when Rh can affect health is in pregnancy. If an expectant mother is Rh-negative and the baby is Rh-positive, for example, there is an incompatibility that will have to be observed by doctors.
If there is any blood mix during the pregnancy or birth, the mother’s body could produce Rh antibodies. This is not an immediate problem, but a concern if there is ever a second pregnancy.
If the next baby is Rh-positive, the mentioned antibodies could cross the placenta and attack the red blood cells of the baby.
What happens if two blood types mix?
There are several different answers to that question, based on which blood types mix. Blood type AB has A and B antigens, and type O blood does not have either, for example. What your immune system will do is produce antibodies for any antigens you don’t have in your blood.
If you are type A and receive type B blood, your body will produce antibodies that will attack the type B red cells.
If you are AB, good news, you can receive any type of blood, you are a universal recipient. If you are type O, you are a universal donor – and can help many people.
You can’t, however, receive any blood types that are not O. If there is incompatibility, the blood will clump and cause serious problems.
Fortunately, any doctor and hospital will perform a compatibility test before any transfusions.
Are the results of a home blood test kit accurate?
Since the test relies on users following precise instructions, there is always a percentage of inaccuracy. The main reasons for a wrong or void result are blood mixing on the Eldoncard, not enough blood drawn for the chemical reactions and wrong waiting time.
It is crucial to read the instructions carefully and to follow them to the letter before starting the test. Otherwise, the best home blood type test kits are very accurate.
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