Blood Type Compatibility Chart
Pick a blood type to see who it can donate to and receive from — plus the full compatibility chart.
Full compatibility chart
| Donor | O- | O+ | A- | A+ | B- | B+ | AB- | AB+ |
|---|
For general education only — not medical advice. Real transfusions require cross-matching and other testing by qualified professionals.
How blood type compatibility works
Red blood cell transfusions must respect two antigen systems: ABO and Rh. Your red cells carry A and/or B antigens (or neither, for type O) and the Rh(D) antigen (the + or − in your type). A transfusion is safe only when every antigen on the donor cells is also present on the recipient — otherwise the recipient's antibodies attack the transfused cells. So an A donor can give to A and AB recipients, a B donor to B and AB, an O donor to anyone (ABO-wise), and an AB donor only to AB. On top of that, an Rh-positive donor cannot give to an Rh-negative recipient.
Two types stand out. O-negative carries no A, B, or Rh antigen, so it can donate red cells to every one of the eight types — the universal red-cell donor. AB-positive carries A, B, and Rh, so it can receive from all eight types — the universal recipient. This tool maps the donor → recipient direction for whole-type red cell compatibility; plasma compatibility runs in the opposite direction and is not modeled here.
FAQ
Which blood type is the universal donor? O-negative. With no A, B, or Rh(D) antigens on its red cells, O- can be transfused into recipients of any ABO/Rh type, which is why it is prized for emergencies.
Which blood type is the universal recipient? AB-positive. Its red cells already carry A, B, and Rh antigens, so a person with AB+ blood can receive red cells from any of the eight types.
Why can't a positive type donate to a negative type? Rh-negative people can form anti-Rh(D) antibodies when exposed to Rh-positive cells. To stay safe, Rh-positive red cells are only given to Rh-positive recipients.
Does this chart cover plasma or platelets? No. It models red blood cell (whole-type) compatibility only. Plasma compatibility is essentially reversed, and platelet and organ matching follow different rules.