Blood Type Chart
Who can donate red blood cells to whom, how common each type is, and which blood types parents can pass on.
Red blood cell compatibility
| Donor ↓ / Recipient → | O- | O+ | A- | A+ | B- | B+ | AB- | AB+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O- | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| O+ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| A- | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| A+ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
| B- | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| B+ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
| AB- | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
| AB+ | ✓ |
Each blood type at a glance
| Type | US frequency | Can give red cells to | Can receive red cells from |
|---|---|---|---|
| O- | 7% | O-, O+, A-, A+, B-, B+, AB-, AB+ | O- |
| O+ | 37% | O+, A+, B+, AB+ | O-, O+ |
| A- | 6% | A-, A+, AB-, AB+ | O-, A- |
| A+ | 36% | A+, AB+ | O-, O+, A-, A+ |
| B- | 2% | B-, B+, AB-, AB+ | O-, B- |
| B+ | 9% | B+, AB+ | O-, O+, B-, B+ |
| AB- | 1% | AB-, AB+ | O-, A-, B-, AB- |
| AB+ | 3% | AB+ | O-, O+, A-, A+, B-, B+, AB-, AB+ |
Frequencies are approximate US averages (American Red Cross) and vary by ancestry. Plasma compatibility is the reverse of red-cell compatibility (AB is the universal plasma donor). Actual transfusions always require cross-matching.
Blood type inheritance chart (ABO)
| Parent 1 ↓ / Parent 2 → | O | A | B | AB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| O | O | O, A | O, B | A, B |
| A | O, A | O, A | O, A, B, AB | A, B, AB |
| B | O, B | O, A, B, AB | O, B | A, B, AB |
| AB | A, B | A, B, AB | A, B, AB | A, B, AB |
Cells show the possible ABO types of a child. Rh factor is inherited separately: two Rh− parents normally have only Rh− children, while any other combination can produce either.
FAQ
What is the universal donor blood type?
O negative red cells can be given to patients of any ABO/Rh type, which is why O− is called the universal red-cell donor.
What is the universal recipient?
AB positive patients can receive red cells from any ABO/Rh type.
What is the rarest blood type?
In the US, AB negative is the rarest, at about 1% of the population.
Can two O parents have an A child?
Under standard ABO inheritance, no — two O parents pass on only O alleles. Rare variants such as the Bombay phenotype are exceptions.
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