The ancient Greeks believed the gods had golden fluid flowing through their veins. They called this golden blood Ichor, an ethereal fluid thought to have immortal properties but is toxic to mortals.
In 1961, golden blood was discovered, not because of its color but because of its rare nature and vital significance to the scientific community. It may not have immortal powers from the gods, but it is extraordinary in its ability to save lives.
Human Blood Typing
The blood comprises various components: red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. Among these units, the red blood cell determines our blood type through the mix of sugars and proteins attached to it, known as antigens.
The combination of sugar antigens determines if a person has blood type A, B, AB, or O under the ABO system. On the other hand, the protein mix known as the Rh factor determines the negative or positive blood type under the Rh system. The combination of ABO and Rh systems makes up a person's specific blood type, including A+, A-, B+, B-, AB+, AB-, O+, or O-.
According to the American Red Cross, the Rh factor significantly determines blood donations and transfusions. A person with Rh-positive factors does not make anti-Rh antibodies, while those with Rh-negative factors can produce the antibodies. This means an individual with Rh+ blood can receive Rh+ and Rh- donations, but one with Rh- can only receive Rh- transfusions.
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The Rare Nature of the Golden Blood Type
Golden blood is the nickname given to Rh-null, considered the rarest blood type in existence. This blood type has a complete lack of antigens in the Rh system. According to Cleveland Clinic, fewer than 50 people in the world possess this golden blood type.
Regarding blood transfusion, one can only receive blood from another person with the same number or fewer antigens. Since most of the population has more Rh proteins than an Rh-null individual, everyone can accept this blood safely during transfusion. This makes the golden blood type lifesaving - when an emergency blood transfusion is needed but a person's rare blood type is unknown, the Rh-null blood can be given. It is only given to patients during extreme cases because it is hard to replace.
The golden blood type is important in developing immunoglobulin medicines to prevent Rhesus or hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN). HDFN happens when the mother with Rh-negative blood conceives a fetus with Rh-positive blood. The antibodies in the mother's blood react against the fetus and can cause jaundice or miscarriage.
In the past, doctors thought a person without Rh antigen could not be born alive. Then in 1961, experts discovered that an antibody called Rho(D) immune globulin could be used in creating a treatment for HDFN. They found that a man named James Harrison had a lot of this antibody in his bloodstream. Harrison regularly donated blood, which led to the discovery of anti-D immune globulin.
For over six decades, Harrison has donated blood and plasma regularly since he was 18 years old. This made him gain the title "man with a golden arm." From his thousands of blood donations, he was able to help 2.4 million babies at risk of HDFN. In 2018, Harrison retired from donating blood after reaching 81, considered the upper limit for blood donation in Australia.
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