The universal blood type for red blood cell transfusions is type O negative (O-). This means that people with any of the 8 common blood types can safely receive O- blood because it contains no A, B, or Rh antigens that would trigger an immune response. Type O- donors are therefore called universal donors. However, individuals with O- blood can only receive O- blood themselves, making O- donations critically important and in high demand for emergencies and trauma cases. Additionally, for plasma transfusions, the universal donor blood type is AB (particularly AB positive or negative), as AB plasma can be given to any blood type recipient. In summary:
- Universal red blood cell donor: Type O negative (O-)
- Universal plasma donor: Type AB (AB+ or AB-)
These facts are supported by multiple reputable sources including blood banks and medical institutions as of 2025.
