Tampa, Fla. - There's more evidence our blood type could be connected to how severe Covid-19 impacts us.

Genetic testing bio tech 23andMe's upcoming study is one of the largest yet.

The study has not been peer reviewed but USF Professor of Medicine and Research Virologist Dr. Michael Teng took a look at a version of the paper and gave his perspective.

Is this something we've seen before?

"So yes this is a really interesting study. It's actually supporting a study that was published in June in the New England Journal of Medicine,” said Dr. Teng.  “Specifically, in hospitalized patients in Spain and Italy. And this is a little bit broader of a study because it's now in a larger cohort."

The company asked millions of customers to participate.

About 15,000 reported Covid-19 positive infections.

Although, the study group is not the same population demographics as the United States, it was a better representation of demographics than the previous study.

"They found basically the same thing,” said Dr. Teng comparing the 23andMe study with the New England Journal of Medicine one.  “They found that blood type O, you seem to be a little bit more resistant to the infection, at least the severe infection."

The recent study found an association of better outcomes depending on the person’s blood type.

"I don't know that there's any way we can use the information to prevent infection but we do know an association,” explained Dr. Teng.  “So for example the blood group association, one of the things we can do now is when we know our blood group and we get infected with Sars-Coronavirus-2 (Covid-19) we can be more vigilant."

The study also found ties between coronavirus and other affected human genes.

The same links the New England Journal of Medicine study also found, said Dr. Teng.