About My Blood Type
Blood Groups & Blood Types
Some blood types are more common than others and some are considered rare. Find out more about rare, common and universal blood types and which blood types can donate to other blood groups.
Click your blood type below to learn more about what makes your blood group unique.
O+ | O- | A+ | A- | B+ | B- | AB+ | AB- |
|---|
O+ Blood Type
Blood Type: O-Positive
The most common blood type, therefore the most commonly transfused blood type, red blood cells are needed most from O-positive (O+) blood donors.
If you are Type O-positive (O+), you can make the most of your donation by donating whole blood, double red cells or platelets. Double red cell and platelets are donated through an automated process called apheresis that spins and separates red cells or platelets and returns fluids back to the donor.
Whole blood donors are eligible to give blood every 8 weeks. Double red cell donors are eligible every 16 weeks. Platelet donors are eligible every 2 weeks. Donors age 17 and 18 may donate every 6 months.
- Percentage of Population with this Blood Type: 38%
- Preferred Donations: Whole Blood, Double Red Blood Cell, Platelet
- Blood Types You Can Receive: O-, O+
- Blood Types Who Can Receive Your Red Blood Cells: A+, AB+, B+, O+
- Blood Types Who Can Receive Your Plasma: O-, O+
- Blood Types Who Can Receive Your Platelets: O+
O- Blood Type
Blood Type: O-Negative
People with Type O-negative (O-) blood are in great demand because they are considered “universal red cell donors,” meaning their red blood cells can be safely transfused to patients with any blood type. The need for O-negative blood is the highest because it is used most often during emergencies and traumas and when blood type is unknown. However, O- blood types can ONLY receive O- blood.
If you are Type O-, you can make the most of your donation by donating whole blood or double red cells.
Whole Blood Donation: Donating one (1) pint of whole blood could save up to three lives. It takes about 10 minutes to donate and donors are eligible every eight (8) weeks. Donors age 17 and 18 may donate every 6 months.
Double Red Donation: Donating a double red is choosing to donate only red blood cells. These are collected through an automated process called apheresis that spins and separates out the red blood cells and returns fluids back to the donor. Donors are eligible every 16 weeks.
- Percentage of Population with O-negative Blood Type: 7%
- Preferred Blood Donation Types: Whole Blood, Double Red Blood Cell
- Blood Types You Can Receive: O-
- Blood Types Who Can Receive Your Red Blood Cells: All Blood Types
- Blood Types Who Can Receive Your Plasma: O-, O+
- Blood Types Who Can Receive Your Platelets: O+
A+ Blood Type
Blood Type: A-Positive (A+)
A-positive (A+) is a common blood type which makes it the most needed blood for transfusions, so you may be asked to donate whole blood. About 1 in 3 people have this blood type. Whole blood donors are eligible to give blood every 8 weeks. Donors age 17 and 18 may donate every 6 months.
Platelets are another way to maximize your donation as an A+ blood type. Hospitals are always in need of platelets as they are critical to blood clotting. Platelet donors are eligible to donate every two (2) weeks.
- Percentage of Population with A-positive Blood Type: 36%
- Preferred Blood Donation Types: Whole Blood, Platelet
- Blood Types You Can Receive: A-, A+, O-, O+
- Blood Types Who Can Receive Your Red Blood Cells: A+, AB+
- Blood Types Who Can Receive Your Plasma: A-, A+, O-, O+
- Blood Types Who Can Receive Your Platelets: A+, O+
A- Blood Type
Blood Type: A-Negative (A-)
Because it is so rare, the best type of donation for the A-negative (A-) blood type is to donate whole blood or double red cells. Whole blood donors are eligible to give blood every 8 weeks. Double red cell donors are eligible every 16 weeks. Donors age 17 and 18 may donate every 6 months.
- Percentage of Population with A-negative Blood Type: 6%
- Preferred Blood Donations Type: Whole Blood, Double Red Blood Cell
- Blood Types You Can Receive: A-, O-
- Blood Types Who Can Receive Your Red Blood Cells: A-, A+, AB-, AB+
- Blood Types Who Can Receive Your Plasma: A-, A+, O-, O+
- Blood Types Who Can Receive Your Platelets: A-, A+, O-, O+
B+ Blood Type
Blood Type: B-Positive (B+)
One of the rarer blood types, B-positive (B+) blood donors may be asked to donate platelets or whole blood.
Platelet donors are eligible to donate every 2 weeks. Whole blood donors are eligible to give blood every 8 weeks. Donors age 17 and 18 may donate blood every 6 months.
- Percentage of Population with B-positive Blood Type: 9%
- Preferred Blood Donation Types: Whole Blood, Platelet
- Blood Types You Can Receive: B-, B+, O-, O+
- Blood Types Who Can Receive Your Red Blood Cells: AB+, B+
- Blood Types Who Can Receive Your Plasma: B-, B+, O-, O+
- Blood Types Who Can Receive Your Platelets: B+, O+
B- Blood Type
Blood Type: B-Negative (B-)
A rare blood type, the best way to donate for B-negative (B-) blood donors is whole blood or a double red. A double red cell donation is collected through an automated process called apheresis that removes the red blood cells and returns fluids back to the donor.
Whole blood donors are eligible to donate blood every 8 weeks. Double red cell donors are eligible to give every 16 weeks. Donors age 17 and 18 may donate blood every 6 months.
- Percentage of Population with B-negative Blood Type: 2%
- Preferred Blood Donation Types: Whole Blood, Double Red Blood Cell
- Blood Types You Can Receive: B-, O-
- Blood Types Who Can Receive Your Red Blood Cells: AB-, AB+, B-, B+
- Blood Types Who Can Receive Your Plasma: B-, B+, O-, O+
- Blood Types Who Can Receive Your Platelets: B-, B+, O-, O+
AB+ Blood Type
Blood Type: AB-Positive (AB+)
A rare blood type, AB-positive (AB+) blood donors are known as both "universal plasma donors" and "universal recipients" because patients of all blood types can receive their plasma and they can receive red blood cells from any other blood type. Plasma donors are eligible to donate every 4 weeks. The donation process takes about 45 minutes to an hour versus a whole blood donation which usually takes about 10-15 minutes.
AB+ blood donors are also encouraged to donate platelets because they are compatible with several other blood types. Platelet donors are eligible every 2 weeks.
- Percentage of Population with AB-positive Blood Type: 3%
- Preferred Blood Donation Types: Platelet, Plasma
- Blood Types You Can Receive: All Types
- Blood Types Who Can Receive Your Red Blood Cells: AB+
- Blood Types Who Can Receive Your Plasma: All Blood Types
- Blood Types Who Can Receive Your Platelets: A+, AB+, B+, O+
AB- Blood Type
Blood Type: AB-Negative (AB-)
Although it is the rarest blood type, AB-negative (AB-) donors are known as "universal plasma donors," because patients of all blood types can safely receive their plasma. The donation process takes about 45 minutes to an hour versus a whole blood donation which usually takes about 10-15 minutes. If you have AB- blood, you may be a great candidate to donate plasma or platelets. Many donors give both at the same time thanks to our amazing Trima systems.
AB- donors are encouraged to donate platelets because they are compatible with several other blood types. Platelet donors are eligible to donate every two (2) weeks. Plasma donors are eligible to donate every (4) weeks.
- Percentage of Population with AB-negative Blood Type: 1%
- Preferred Blood Donation Types: Platelet, Plasma
- Blood Types You Can Receive: A-, AB-, B-, O-
- Blood Types Who Can Receive Your Red Blood Cells: AB-, AB+
- Blood Types Who Can Receive Your Plasma: All Blood Types
- Blood Types Who Can Receive Your Platelets: All Blood Types
