Males and females without childbearing potential can receive O Rh-positive red cells. O-negative red cell units are in chronic short supply, in some part due to over utilization for patients who are not O-negative. To ensure O-negative red cells are available for patients who truly need them, their use should be restricted to:

1. patients who are O-Rh-negative;
2. patients with unknown blood group requiring emergent transfusion who are female and of child-bearing age.

Type specific red cells should be administered as soon as possible in all emergency situations.

Conditions: Blood Transfusion, Anemia (Low Blood Count), Trauma, Emergency

Treatments: O-Negative Blood Transfusion

Sources

• British Committee for Standards in Haematology, Stainsby D, MacLennan S, Thomas D, Isaac J, Hamilton PJ. Guidelines on the management of massive blood loss. Br J Haematol. 2006 Dec;135(5):634-41. (PubMed)
• The Chief Medical Officer's National Blood Transfusion Committee (UK). The appropriate use of group O RhD negative red cells. Manchester (UK): National Health Service; 2008. 4 p. (ChoosingWisely)
• United Blood Services. A New Standard of Transfusion Care: Appropriate use of O-negative red blood cells. [Cited 2015 Apr 28]. (PDF)