O negative blood is special because it is the universal blood type, meaning that it is the preferred choice for blood transfusions. This is especially true when the recipient’s blood type is unknown or in the case of an emergency when there is no time to test the recipient's blood group.
O negative blood is also the safest blood for transfusions in immune-deficient newborns, and it has the lowest risk of causing severe reactions for most recipients.
Because O negative blood is highly versatile, it is in high demand. However, people with O negative blood type can only receive blood from O negative donors.
What is the O negative blood group?
O negative blood group is a type of blood group that does not have any of the major blood group antigens (A, B, or Rh). Because of this, a person with any ABO and Rh blood type can receive O negative blood.
Blood type is determined based on the antigens present on the surface of the red blood cells. The two types of antigen categories that classify blood types are ABO antigens and Rh antigens.
Antigens are either protein or sugar molecules that have these prime functions in the blood:
- Maintaining the integrity of red blood cells
- Acting as receptors or binding sites for certain immune system components, enzymes, and other crucial molecules
- Transporting molecules in and out of the cell
Antigens and antibodies play a crucial role in the immune system’s defense mechanism. Antibodies are produced by white blood cells and target any antigen that is seen as a foreign object. It is therefore vital to receive a matching blood type during transfusion.
If a person receives blood with different antigens than those in their body, there is a high chance that their body will reject and attack the new blood cells.
Why is O negative blood group always in demand?
Since there is usually no time to test the blood type of a trauma victim, hospitals and ambulances need to have O negative blood to use in transfusions, as it is the safest option.
Although only 7% of people have O negative blood group in the United States, it is not the rarest. One of the rarest blood types is RH-null, which is present in 50 people in the entire world population.
| Blood group ABO | Percentage of people |
|---|---|
| O-negative (O−) | 9% |
| A-negative (A−) | 6% |
| B-positive (B+) | 7% |
| B-negative (B−) | 2% |
| AB-positive (AB+) | 4% |
| AB-negative (AB−) | 1% |
| O-positive (O+) | 39% |
| A-positive (A+) | 30% |
SLIDESHOW
Anemia: Common Causes, Symptoms, Types, and Treatment See SlideshowHealth Solutions From Our Sponsors
The American National Red Cross. Why is Type O Blood so Important. https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/blood-types/o-blood-type.html
Cleveland Clinic. Blood Types. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/21213-blood-types
Smith T. Is O Negative a Rare Blood Type? OneBlood. https://www.oneblood.org/media/blog/target-your-type/is-o-negative-a-rare-blood-type.stml
Top What Is Special About O Negative Blood Related Articles
Blood Disorders Quiz
Exactly what is sickle cell anemia? Learn about sickle cell and other diseases by testing your IQ with the Blood and Bleeding Disorders Quiz.
Blood Basics Test Quiz
What do you know about blood? It runs all through your body, so educate yourself! Take this blood basics quiz to learn about human blood!
Blood Disorders: Types, Symptoms, and Treatments
Some blood disorders are forms of cancer. Others are benign. Find out what happens and why.
Blood Transfusion
During a blood transfusion, blood or blood products are transferred from one person to another. There are two types of transfusions, autologous (your own blood), and donor blood (someone else's blood). There are four blood types: A; B; C; and O.In addition, each person's blood is either Rh-positive or Rh-negative. It is important to know what to expect before, during, and after a blood transfusion, and the risks, side effecs, or complications of blood transfusions.
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
A complete blood count (CBC) is a calculation of the cellular makeup of blood. A CBC measures the concentration of white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets in the blood, and aids in diagnosing conditions and disease such as malignancy, anemia, or blood clotting problems.
Does the EldonCard Blood Typing Kit Hurt?
While the EldonCard blood typing test kit requires pricking the side of your finger to obtain a blood sample, the pain is typically mild and resolves within a few minutes.
factor VIII
Factor VIII, human plasma-derived is a specialized protein in blood that plays a role in the clotting (coagulation) process. Human plasma-derived factor VIII is used to maintain the necessary levels of the particular factor in individuals with hemophilia A, a hereditary bleeding disorder caused by deficiency in factor VIII. Common side effects of factor VIII, human plasma-derived include increased factor VIII inhibitors, stinging at the injection site, inflammation at the injection site, chest tightness, headache, fever, chills, lethargy, blurred vision, taste disorder (dysgeusia), and hypersensitivity reactions.
How Accurate Are Blood Typing Kits?
Blood typing kits are accurate 99.9% of the time when used correctly. It is important to use enough blood when testing and store the kits properly.
Blood Type: How Your Blood Type Can Affect Your Health
Does your blood type play a role in your risk for disease? Find out how it fares in the face of certain conditions.
Hemochromatosis (Iron Overload)
Hereditary hemochromatosis (iron overload) is an inherited disorder in which there is excessive accumulation of iron in the body. Check out the center below for more medical references on hemochromatosis, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related disease conditions, treatment and diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.
Is It Worth Banking Cord Blood?
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) do not recommend routinely banking cord blood with private banks. There is an exception of a sibling with a medical condition requiring stem cells for treatment. However, it is advisable to donate cord blood to a public cord blood bank to provide life-saving stem cells to a person in need.
What Are Human Blood Vessels?
Blood vessels are small tube-like structures through which blood circulates throughout the human body. The blood vessels transport oxygen and nutrients to the tissues and organs and remove carbon dioxide and waste away from the tissues and organs.
What Are the 3 Rarest Blood Types?
The red blood cells or RBCs present in the blood carry certain molecules, called antigens, on their surface that determine what blood group you have. The antigens depend on the genes you inherit from your parents. These antigens may be grouped in various categories to form a system for blood typing called the ABO system. The EldonCard blood type test kit uses the basic forward antibody technique of blood hematology for quick and simple determination of your blood type.
What Does a Low or High MCHC Mean in a Blood Test?
High and low MCHC values are common conditions that affect many people. Learn the signs of high or low MCHC values, what causes them, how doctors diagnose them, and what you can do to treat them.
What Is the Golden Blood Type?
The golden blood type or Rh null blood group is the rarest blood group and contains no Rh antigens (proteins) on the red blood cells (RBCs). Learn about other rare blood types.