Inuvik (May 09/05) - You know what kind of fuel goes in your car, why wouldn't you know what kind of blood your body needs?

This was the question asked by Eileen Kabaroff moments after a slight prick at the Inuvik Regional Hospital, Thursday, drew a few red drops to her fingertip.

"It's important for everyone to know their blood type," she said.

"That way you can choose whether to bank blood or use blood services."

The regional nutritionist, who found out she is A positive, explained that if she learned she had a rare blood type she would consider banking blood before a scheduled surgery for example.

"You just give your own."

The exercise was just one of the interactive displays and events put on by the hospital during National Medical Laboratory Week, April 24-30.

"A lot of people have stopped by and been interested to know their blood type," said Rachelle Kingsler, medical laboratory technologist. "Tuesday afternoon was non stop."

Along with blood grouping, displays describing what lab workers do, how blood and bacteria tests differ and why it can take a few hours to a few days for a test to come back, were erected at Northmart and the hospital.

Lab tours, contests, a cake cutting took place at the hospital.

"For most it's just a curiosity."

Blood grouping participants learned not only their type, but the likely types of their parents and who they can give blood to or receive it from.

Since you get one gene from each of your parents, your blood type will be determined by theirs, Kingsler explained.

Certain blood types are more common than others, such as O positive, the most common, while O negative, less common, is a universal donor and can be given to anybody. AB negative is the least common blood type.

O positive is also the usual blood type for Northern aboriginals, said Kingsler.

"It's fascinating for anyone who is interested in science, genealogy or biology," she said.

Edna Kasook found the process to determine blood type the most interesting.

Kingsler used three antibodies, A, B, and D along with an RH control to produce a reaction with the red blood cells to determine blood type.

When she added the blood to the A antibody, it just stayed clear, but the blood cells started clumping with the B antibodies, she said.

"Oohh, that was neat."

Since blood collection can't take place in the North and supplies must be shipped up, Kingsler advises everybody to take the time to donate if they're are in the south. "There is never too much blood donated."