What is your blood type? Donate and find out. Nearly 16 million blood components are transfused each year in the U.S.' Type O-negative blood can be transfused to ALL blood types. For more about plasma donation, visit the plasma donation facts. 7 of the population, or 1 in 11 people, has type O-negative blood. The universal plasma donor has Type AB blood. The universal red cell donor has Type O negative blood.
The need for O+ is high because it is the most frequently occurring blood type (37% of the population). However, the need for O negative blood is the highest because it is used most often during emergencies. Only 7% of the population are O negative.
Types O negative and O positive are in high demand. Minority and diverse populations, therefore, play a critical role in meeting the constant need for blood. Type O is routinely in short supply and in high demand by hospitals – both because it is the most common blood type and because type O negative blood is the universal blood type needed for emergency transfusions and for immune deficient infants.Īpproximately 45 percent of Caucasians are type O (positive or negative), but 51 percent of African-Americans and 57 percent of Hispanics are type O. Why? O negative blood can be used in transfusions for any blood type. Universal donors are those with an O negative blood type.
