Blood group compatibility chart
For red cells, O negative can be given to every group and AB positive can receive from every group. For plasma it reverses: AB plasma suits every group and group O patients can receive plasma from anyone. Every transfusion still needs a crossmatch on the patient's own sample.
Choose the patient's blood group:
Red cell compatibility, group by group
| Patient | Can receive red cells from |
|---|---|
| O− | O− |
| O+ | O−, O+ |
| A− | O−, A− |
| A+ | O−, O+, A−, A+ |
| B− | O−, B− |
| B+ | O−, O+, B−, B+ |
| AB− | O−, A−, B−, AB− |
| AB+ | All eight groups |
Plasma compatibility
| Patient | Can receive plasma from |
|---|---|
| O | O, A, B, AB |
| A | A, AB |
| B | B, AB |
| AB | AB only |
Plasma carries antibodies rather than red cells, so the rules run the other way round. Rh group is not a concern for plasma.
What about platelets and rare groups?
Platelets are best given ABO-identical. When that is not available, local policy decides; Rh-negative girls and women of child-bearing age should receive Rh-negative platelets where possible. People with the rare Bombay phenotype can receive red cells only from other Bombay donors.
This chart explains the general rules. It is not a substitute for grouping, antibody screening and crossmatch on the patient's current sample, or for your blood centre's SOP.
How does blood bank software use these rules?
Caresoft BBMS applies these rules automatically. When a patient is grouped, it offers only compatible units, earliest expiry first, and refuses to issue any bag that does not match, including in emergencies, where only O negative red cells or AB plasma are allowed.
Questions people ask
Which blood group is the universal donor?
Which blood group is the universal recipient?
Can an Rh-positive person receive Rh-negative blood?
Is a compatibility chart enough before transfusion?
See it with your own stock and workflow
A 30-minute demo walks through donor to bedside, the safety stops, and how BBMS connects to your HIS.