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.
