Chart — Hematology
Blood Product Compatibility Chart
Two matrices — because red cells and plasma follow opposite logic. Red cell compatibility is about the antigens in the bag; plasma compatibility is about the antibodies in the bag.
Standard ABO/Rh compatibility conventions
Educational use only. The crossmatch and unit tag are authoritative for every transfusion — matrices support understanding, not bedside compatibility decisions. This material supports nursing education and exam review. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for clinical judgment, institutional policy, or medical direction. Always follow facility protocols and current provider orders.
Red Cell Compatibility
| RBC Recipient | Donor O | Donor A | Donor B | Donor AB | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recipient O | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | O only |
| Recipient A | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | A or O |
| Recipient B | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | B or O |
| Recipient AB | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Universal RBC recipient |
O red cells carry no A/B antigens — compatible with everyone (universal donor). AB recipients carry no anti-A/anti-B — compatible with every donor (universal recipient).
Plasma Compatibility (FFP) — the Rules Reverse
| Plasma Recipient | Donor O | Donor A | Donor B | Donor AB | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recipient O | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Can receive any plasma |
| Recipient A | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | A or AB plasma |
| Recipient B | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | B or AB plasma |
| Recipient AB | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | AB plasma only |
AB plasma contains no ABO antibodies — safe for everyone (universal plasma donor). O plasma carries anti-A and anti-B — O recipients only.
Rh Rules
| Recipient | Rh-Negative Cells | Rh-Positive Cells | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rh-negative | ✓ | ✗ | Exposure to the D antigen sensitizes — critical in women of childbearing potential |
| Rh-positive | ✓ | ✓ | Already carries the D antigen — nothing new to react against |
Emergency uncrossmatched default: O-negative red cells. RhoGAM prevents D sensitization in Rh-negative mothers — same logic, obstetric setting.
Related Resources
Standards & sources
Fact-checked Jun 21, 2026This page is written to align with Standard ABO/Rh compatibility conventions. It is an educational summary, not a citation of any single document — always verify specific doses, values, and protocols against current guidelines and your facility policy. How we source content →