The universal blood donor type is O negative (O-). This blood type can be safely given to people of any other blood type because it lacks A, B, and Rh antigens on the red blood cells, minimizing the risk of immune reactions during transfusions
. Key points about O negative blood as the universal donor:
- It can be transfused to any ABO and Rh blood type recipient.
- It is especially critical in emergency situations when there is no time for blood typing and crossmatching.
- Although only about 6-8% of the population has O negative blood, it accounts for a disproportionately high demand in hospitals
- O negative blood does not contain antigens that would trigger an immune response in recipients with other blood types
In summary, O negative red blood cells are universally compatible donors for red blood cell transfusions.
