Health
Blood Type Compatibility Chart & Donor Guide
Last updated: May 31, 2026
Written by Blake Boege
An educational guide and reference chart maps blood type compatibility. Users search to find which blood types can donate to or receive from other types.
An educational blood type compatibility chart details donor and recipient matching for red blood cells and plasma transfusions.
Quick Answer
Type O- blood is the universal red blood cell donor, whereas type AB+ is the universal recipient. For plasma, type AB is the universal donor, and type O is the universal recipient.
Quick reference
Type O- blood is the universal red blood cell donor, whereas type AB+ is the universal recipient. For plasma, type AB is the universal donor, and type O is the universal recipient.
An educational guide and reference chart maps blood type compatibility. Users search to find which blood types can donate to or receive from other types.
Select Your Blood Type
Choose a blood group to view compatible donors and recipients:
Red Blood Cell (RBC) Compatibility
Plasma Transfusion Compatibility
Selected Type: O-
Universal Donor
Compatible with 8 recipient types
Red Blood Cell Compatibility Matrix
| Type | Can Receive Red Cells From | Can Donate Red Cells To |
|---|---|---|
| O- | O- | O+, O-, A+, A-, B+, B-, AB+, AB- |
| O+ | O-, O+ | O+, A+, B+, AB+ |
| A- | O-, A- | A+, A-, AB+, AB- |
| A+ | O-, O+, A-, A+ | A+, AB+ |
| B- | O-, B- | B+, B-, AB+, AB- |
| B+ | O-, O+, B-, B+ | B+, AB+ |
| AB- | O-, A-, B-, AB- | AB+, AB- |
| AB+ | O-, O+, A-, A+, B-, B+, AB-, AB+ | AB+ |
Plasma Compatibility Matrix
| Type | Can Receive Plasma From | Can Donate Plasma To |
|---|---|---|
| O- | O-, O+, A-, A+, B-, B+, AB-, AB+ | O+, O-, A+, A-, B+, B-, AB+, AB- |
| O+ | O-, O+, A-, A+, B-, B+, AB-, AB+ | O+, O-, A+, A-, B+, B-, AB+, AB- |
| A- | A-, A+, AB-, AB+ | A+, A-, AB+, AB- |
| A+ | A-, A+, AB-, AB+ | A+, A-, AB+, AB- |
| B- | B-, B+, AB-, AB+ | B+, B-, AB+, AB- |
| B+ | B-, B+, AB-, AB+ | B+, B-, AB+, AB- |
| AB- | AB-, AB+ | AB+, AB- |
| AB+ | AB-, AB+ | AB+, AB- |
Examples
Universal Red Cell Donor
O Negative (O-)
Universal Red Cell Recipient
AB Positive (AB+)
Universal Plasma Donor
AB Positive / AB Negative (AB)
How it works
This reference guide provides an interactive interface and comprehensive lookups to answer questions about blood type chart.
Use the calculators to input values, highlight rows or columns, and solve conversions instantly.
How blood type compatibility works
Blood compatibility is determined by the presence or absence of specific antigens (A, B, and Rh factor) on the surface of red blood cells. Your immune system will produce antibodies against foreign antigens. If you receive blood with antigens that your body does not recognize, your immune system will attack the transfused blood cells, causing a dangerous reaction. Therefore, donors and recipients must be matched carefully.
ABO and Rh factor explained
The ABO blood group system classifies blood into four types: A (has A antigen), B (has B antigen), AB (has both), and O (has neither). The Rh factor refers to the presence (+) or absence (-) of the Rh protein on the cells. Combining these gives the eight common blood types: A+, A-, B+, B-, AB+, AB-, O+, and O-.
Universal donor and universal recipient
For red blood cell transfusions, O negative (O-) is the universal donor type because its cells have no A, B, or Rh antigens and will not trigger an immune reaction in any recipient. AB positive (AB+) is the universal recipient because patients with this type have all three antigens and will not react against any donor blood type. For plasma, the rule reverses: AB is the universal donor, and O is the universal recipient.
Is it a US federal holiday?
No, a blood type compatibility chart is a medical education reference guide, not a calendar holiday.
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Frequently asked questions
For red blood cells, type O- (O negative) is the universal donor because its cells lack A, B, and Rh antigens, meaning it can be transfused to patients of any blood type in emergencies.
For red blood cells, type AB+ (AB positive) is the universal recipient because it has A, B, and Rh antigens, meaning individuals with this type can receive blood from any blood type.
Plasma compatibility is the opposite of red cell compatibility. Type AB plasma is the universal donor because it lacks antibodies, while type O plasma is the universal recipient.
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