liminfoBlood Type Compatibility
Free web tool: Blood Type Compatibility
Can Receive From
Can Donate To
| Type | A+ | A- | B+ | B- | AB+ | AB- | O+ | O- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | Yes | Yes | - | - | - | - | Yes | Yes |
| A- | - | Yes | - | - | - | - | - | Yes |
| B+ | - | - | Yes | Yes | - | - | Yes | Yes |
| B- | - | - | - | Yes | - | - | - | Yes |
| AB+ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AB- | - | Yes | - | Yes | - | Yes | - | Yes |
| O+ | - | - | - | - | - | - | Yes | Yes |
| O- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Yes |
Rows = recipient, Columns = donor
About Blood Type Compatibility
The Blood Type Compatibility & Inheritance Chart is an interactive reference tool covering both ABO and Rh (positive/negative) blood group systems. In the Compatibility tab, select any of the 8 blood types (A+, A-, B+, B-, AB+, AB-, O+, O-) to instantly see which types that person can receive blood from and which types they can donate to. A full cross-reference matrix shows all 64 donor-recipient combinations at a glance.
The Inheritance tab provides a reference table for ABO group genetics. Parents pass on one of two ABO alleles each, so a child's blood type depends on the combination. The table lists all 10 unique parental pairings (A×A through O×O) and shows every possible blood type the child could inherit. Note that Rh factor (positive vs. negative) is inherited separately and follows dominant-recessive genetics independently of the ABO locus.
This tool is useful for medical students studying hematology, nurses reviewing transfusion protocols, biology teachers illustrating Mendelian inheritance, and anyone curious about their own blood type compatibility for donation or family planning. All data is hardcoded from standard transfusion medicine references and runs entirely in the browser — no personal health data is ever collected or transmitted.
Key Features
- Covers all 8 ABO+Rh blood types: A+, A-, B+, B-, AB+, AB-, O+, O-
- Shows compatible donor types (can receive from) for any selected blood type
- Shows compatible recipient types (can donate to) for any selected blood type
- Full 8×8 cross-compatibility matrix for all donor-recipient combinations
- Inheritance tab: possible child blood types for all 10 parental ABO pairings
- Note on separate Rh factor inheritance for complete genetic context
- Tab-based UI separating compatibility and inheritance views
- 100% client-side, no data stored — safe for medical education use
Frequently Asked Questions
Which blood type is the universal donor?
O- (O negative) is the universal red blood cell donor — it can be given to any of the 8 ABO+Rh blood types in an emergency because it lacks A, B, and Rh antigens. However, AB+ is the universal plasma donor. In practice, type-specific blood is always preferred when time allows, as it reduces the risk of any reaction.
Which blood type is the universal recipient?
AB+ (AB positive) is considered the universal recipient for red blood cells — a person with AB+ can receive red blood cells from any of the 8 blood types. They carry both A and B antigens and are Rh positive, so their immune system does not attack donor cells from any ABO or Rh type.
Can O+ donate to A+, B+, and AB+?
Yes. O positive red blood cells lack A and B antigens, so they are compatible with A+, B+, AB+, and O+ recipients — all Rh-positive types. O+ cannot donate to Rh-negative recipients (A-, B-, AB-, O-) because the Rh antigen would trigger an immune response in Rh-negative individuals.
How does Rh factor affect blood transfusion compatibility?
Rh-negative patients should only receive Rh-negative blood. If an Rh-negative person receives Rh-positive blood, their immune system may produce anti-Rh antibodies. This is especially important during pregnancy: if an Rh-negative mother carries an Rh-positive fetus, sensitization can cause hemolytic disease in future pregnancies (managed with Rh immunoglobulin shots).
If both parents are type A, can their child be type O?
Yes. Type A individuals can be genotype AA (homozygous) or AO (heterozygous). If both parents are AO (heterozygous A), there is a 25% chance their child inherits OO and is therefore blood type O. This is a classic example of recessive allele inheritance in the ABO blood group system.
Can two O-type parents have an A or B type child?
No. Type O individuals have the genotype OO, meaning they can only pass on the O allele. Two O-type parents will always produce type O children. If a child of two O-type parents tests as A or B, the result warrants retesting, as it may indicate a rare genetic variant or a testing error.
Is the AB blood type common or rare?
AB blood type is relatively rare. Globally, about 3–5% of people are AB positive and less than 1% are AB negative. The rarest combination is AB-, making AB- donors especially valuable for other AB- patients. Frequency varies significantly by ethnicity and geographic region.
Is this blood type compatibility tool medically accurate?
The compatibility and inheritance data in this tool follows standard ABO and Rh transfusion medicine references. It is designed for educational purposes to help students, patients, and the general public understand blood type compatibility. For actual transfusion decisions, always rely on hospital laboratory crossmatching and a physician's clinical judgment.