One way to make type-O blood is to cleave off the A or B antigens from the blood cells so the immune system doesn’t recognise the blood as being foreign. Researchers around the world have long sought methods to convert A, B and AB blood into type-O, thereby helping blood banks to better manage their supplies. Credit: InvictaHOGīecause type-O negative blood is universally safe, it’s often used in emergency situations when there’s no time for blood type matching, so at times it can be in short supply. Diagram of ABO blood groups and the IgM antibodies present in each. People with type-O negative blood are, therefore, universal donors and their blood is in high demand by blood banks ( 9% of the Spanish population are type-O negative, though among Basques the percentage is much higher). These antigens act like a bullfighter’s red cape, inciting the immune system to attack, causing severe reactions in the event of a transfusion error. The most useful blood for transfusions is type-O negative as it bears no A or B antigens and no Rh protein, which are rejected in people who don’t carry them in their own blood. Researchers are today finding new techniques that bring us closer to the Holy Grail of transfusions: universal blood that is safe for any patient regardless of their blood type. Its use in transfusions, operations, transplants, complications surrounding pregnancies, and massive trauma injuries represents one of the remarkable achievements of modern medicine, a line of research launched 350 years ago and for which one great challenge remains. You can maximize your donation to make the largest impact.Each year about 112 million units of donated blood are collected around the world. What unique powers does your blood type hold? Check out our Target Your Type tool to learn more about the right donation method for you. AB+ donors are encouraged to donate Plasma or Platelets. Plasma from AB+ donors can be given to patients with any blood type, making it extremely important for those in need. Only 3% of the population has type AB+ blood. People with AB+ (positive) are universal plasma donors.

AB- donors are encouraged to donate Plasma or Platelets. Platelets from AB- donors can be used for any patient in need. One of the rarest of all blood types, only 1% of the population has this special blood type. The universal blood type for platelet transfusions is AB Negative (AB-). Universal blood type for platelet transfusions While O- is the universal blood type for whole blood and red blood cell transfusions, it is not the rarest blood type nor is it the universal blood type for platelet or plasma transfusions. These two donation types allow O- donors to maximize their donation and make the largest impact for patients in need. The preferred donation methods for O- donors are Double Red Blood Cell and Whole Blood. O- blood is the preferred blood type for people with underdeveloped immune systems, including premature babies and cancer patients.O- blood is the blood type in the highest demand.Once the patient’s blood type is determined, doctors can switch to that blood type for future transfusions. This is crucial with trauma patients in those early moments of an emergency where doctors will often depend on O- blood to help save the person’s life.

Red blood cells from O- donors can be transfused to anyone, regardless of the person’s blood type. Donors with type O- blood have the unique power to help anyone in need of a blood transfusion. The universal blood type is O negative (O-). In these instances doctors reach for the universal blood type. In emergency situations, doctors don’t always have time to determine a patient’s blood type before working to save their life.