The Association Between Blood Type and COVID-19

In this episode of Ortho Science BYTES, speaker Tony Casina reviews the history of the association between blood type and development of diseases and whether literature answers the question if there are certain blood types associated with COVID-19.
 
About our Speaker: 
Tony S. Casina, MT(ASCP)SBB has worked in the blood banking industry for over 40 years with much of it in the commercial blood bank reagent manufacturers sector with hospital experience as a medical technologist and blood bank manager. Tony has provided technical support to laboratories throughout the world utilizing Ortho’s reagents and immunohematology test systems.  He has tested some of the most challenging antibody problems as part of his reference laboratory experience. Tony has been an active participant in the AABB serving on committees and currently on the AABB Board of Directors. He has contributed as a presenter to AABB and regional blood bank meetings educational programs. He was extensively involved in the development of the ORTHO VISION® Analyzer Platform.
 
References and Links: 
https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/blood-types.html 
Beyond immunohaematology: The role of the ABO blood group in human diseases, Giancarlo Maria Liumbruno & Massimo Franchini, Blood Transfus 2013; 11: 491-9, doi 10.2450/2013.0152-13. 
Annals of Hematology. Blood type and outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Christopher A. Latz, Charles DeCarlo, Laura Boitano, C. Y. Maximilian Png, Rushad Patell, & Mark F. July 2020 
The New England Journal of Medicine. Genomewide Association Study of Severe Covid-19 with Respiratory Failure. The Severe Covid-19 GWAS Group* Dr. Ellinghaus, Ms. Degenhardt, Drs. Valenti, Franke, Karlsen. June 17, 2020
Garratty G. Blood groups and disease: a historical perspective. Transfus Med Rev 2000; 14: 291-301.