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Blood and Blood Types

What You Need to Know About The Different Blood Types

Every person needs a healthy supply of blood. But, not every person’s blood is exactly the same.

Human blood falls into four different blood groups: A, B, AB and O. Your blood also has what is known as an Rh factor: It either contains a certain protein or it doesn’t. (This is the positive [+] or negative [-] after your blood type.) The possible combinations create eight different blood types: A+, A-, B+, B-, AB+, AB-, O+ and O-.

You don’t need to know your blood type to donate blood. Donating blood is a great way to find out your blood type - we’ll tell you after you donate. And, whatever your type, every donor is needed and every donation transforms lives—including your own!

Click or tap on each blood type below to learn the blood types with which it’s compatible, and the type of donation that is recommended for people with each blood type.

A+

32% of the population have this blood type.

  • Blood types compatible with red blood cell donation: A+ AB+
  • Plasma donation compatible with blood types: O+ O- A+ A-
  • Recommended donation types: whole blood, platelets

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A-

6% of the population have this blood type.

  • Blood types compatible with red blood cell donation: A+ AB- AB+ AB-
  • Plasma donation compatible with blood types: O+ O-  A+ A-
  • Recommended donation types: whole blood, Power Red

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Parent and child embracing

Family sitting together and smiling

B+

11% of the population have this blood type.

  • Blood types compatible with red blood cell donation: B+ AB+
  • Plasma donation compatible with blood types: O+ O- B+ B-
  • Recommended donation types: whole blood, platelets

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B-

2% of the population have this blood type.

  • Blood types compatible with red blood cell donation: B+ B- AB+ AB-
  • Plasma donation compatible with blood types: O+ O- B+ B-
  • Recommended donation types: whole blood, Power Red

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AB+

4% of the population have this blood type.

  • Blood types compatible with red blood cell donation: AB+
  • Plasma donation compatible with blood types: all blood types
  • Recommended donation types: whole blood, platelets, plasma

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AB-

1% of the population have this blood type.

  • Blood types compatible with red blood cell donation: AB+ AB-
  • Plasma donation compatible with blood types: all blood types
  • Recommended donation types: whole blood, platelets, plasma

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Member of armed forces with family

Mom and daughter embracing

O+

39% of the population have this blood type.

  • Blood types compatible with red blood cell donation: O+ A+ B+ AB+
  • Plasma donation compatible with blood types: O+ O-
  • Recommended donation types: whole blood, Power Red

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O-

7% of the population have this blood type.

  • Blood types compatible with red blood cell donation: all blood types
  • Plasma donation compatible with blood types: O+ O-
  • Recommended donation types: whole blood, Power Red

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