Importance of ethnic diversity

For people with rare blood types or ongoing and complex treatment needs, an ethnically diverse blood supply can make all the difference. Because blood type is inherited, people with complex blood needs often rely on donors of similar ancestry.

A group of three people standing together smiling at the camera

There is an urgent need for greater ethnic diversity within Canada’s Lifeline, as people from diverse ethnic backgrounds, including those with mixed ancestry, are far less likely to find a stem cell match than someone who identifies as white.

A person’s best chance of finding a match is a donor of the same ethnic background

Matching rare blood types

Most people can be helped with blood from donors of any ethnic background (if they have the same ABO and RhD blood type). However, some people require blood with specific combinations of markers. Examples include people with chronic illnesses like sickle cell disease or thalassemia, who may require regular blood transfusions. Often, donors whose ancestors are from the same regions as blood product recipients (or their ancestors) are most likely to have the same combination of inherited markers and thus the greatest potential to help.  

Learn more about rare blood program

Regular blood transfusions

People who receive regular transfusions generally have better outcomes when the blood they receive comes from a donor whose blood type closely matches theirs. With over 33 different blood types to match, it’s critical that we establish a donor base that is as ethnically diverse as possible, to meet the needs of patients from all communities.

Learn more about matching blood types

Stem cell transplants

For certain life-threatening illnesses like blood cancer (leukemia), a stem cell transplant is the only effective cure. Leukemia and other disorders that are treated with bone marrow transplant can affect people from all ethnicities. However, people of mixed ancestry and ethnic backgrounds other than white* are far less likely to find a suitable stem cell match in Canada.

With a larger, more ethnically diverse registry (and greater diversity of HLA profiles among registrants), we will be able to save more lives.

^{*Reporting is based on self-identified ethnicity}

Learn more about matching stem cells

African, Caribbean and Black registrants make up just 2 per cent of the stem cell registry

Members of Lambda Mu Mu — Canada's chapter — Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., International 13th District share donors from Black communities are currently underrepresented in Canada's stem cell registry. They discuss how building awareness can make all the difference. The more people who register to donate stem cells, the better chance someone with a life-threatening blood disorder or blood cancer will receive a transplant.

Rare blood types by ethnic, racial and Indigenous groups

Some people have rare blood types that fall outside of ABO groups. The table below shows certain blood types are described only in specific racial and ethnic groups. That's why it's essential for donor diversity to match the patient diversity.

Black	U negative; Jsb negative; Joa negative; Hy negative
Filipino, Pacific Islander	Jka negative Jkb negative (JK3 negative)
Indigenous	RzRz; Dib negative
Latin	Dib negative
South Asian	H negative
Caucasian	Vel negative, Kpb negative, Coa negative

Composition of our blood donor base and the stem cell registry

Currently, people in Canada who are from ethnically diverse backgrounds are less likely to find a matching donor than someone who is white. Only half of the hundreds of people across Canada who are waiting for a stem cell transplant typically find a match, for instance.

This is because donors from these ethnically diverse communities are currently underrepresented in our donor and registrant pools.

It’s critical for us to further grow and diversify our donor and registrant pools to ensure that people from all communities in Canada can find their lifesaving match.