Find a Blood Drive
Find a Blood Drive
Knowing your blood type is just the beginning. Each blood type has its own unique ways that it can help patients. Think of it like having your own superpower: Knowing your blood type and how it can be best used means you can help even more people. Keep reading for a list of five facts about each blood type that can empower you to help save lives.
Only 1 in 16 people have type A negative blood. This means that A negative blood can be donated to anyone with a blood type of A or AB regardless of the positive or negative.
If you have A negative blood, you can only receive A- or O- blood.
1 in 3 people are type A positive, making it one of the most common blood types.
A positive blood is in high demand because it is present in a large percentage of the population.
Chemotherapy patients have a high demand for platelets from those with A positive blood.
Less than 2% of the population has type B negative blood while about 9% has B positive blood.
B negative red blood cells can be given to both B and AB patients.
B negative patients can only receive blood from other B negative donors or from type O negative donors, who are the universal donors. Both of these types are fairly rare.
B positive red blood cells can be given to both B positive and AB positive patients.
B positive patients can receive blood from B positive, B negative, O positive and O negative donors.
Less than 1% of the U.S. population has type AB negative blood, making it the least common blood type among Americans.
Patients with AB negative blood type can receive red blood cells from all negative blood types.
Less than 4% of the U.S. population has AB positive blood.
AB positive blood is known as the “universal recipient” because AB positive patients can receive red blood cells from all blood types.
Type AB blood is the only universal plasma donor. This means that type AB plasma transfusions can be given immediately, without losing precious time determining if the patient’s blood type is compatible.
Only 7% of the population has type O negative blood, while 38% has O positive blood, the most common blood type.
O negative is the universal blood type. O positive red blood cells are not universally compatible to all types, but they are compatible to any red blood cells that are positive (A+, B+, O+ and AB+).
Patients with type O negative blood can only receive O negative blood. Similarly, those with O positive blood can only receive transfusions from O positive or O negative blood types.
In major traumas, many hospitals transfuse O positive blood when O negative isn’t available, even when the patient’s blood type is unknown. The risk of reaction is much lower in ongoing blood loss situations and O positive is more available than O negative. Because of their use during emergencies, O blood types are the first to run out during a shortage.
Over 80% of the population has a positive blood type and can receive O positive blood. That’s another reason it’s in such high demand.
With approximately 21 million blood components transfused in the US each year, donors of all blood types are constantly needed. Having an adequate supply of all blood types helps ensure that more patients can get the help they need. If you’re wanting to learn more about blood types, check out this helpful page. You can help keep hospital shelves stocked by scheduling your next appointment to donate today!