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Gloria Duah: Not All ‘O Negative’ Blood Is Safe for Every Patient
Apr 23, 2026, 22:46

Gloria Duah: Not All ‘O Negative’ Blood Is Safe for Every Patient

Gloria Duah, Doctor of Medical Laboratory Science at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Gender Children and Social Protection Minister of United Nations Youth Association-Ghana (UNYA-GH), shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Not all ‘O negative‘ blood is safe for every patient.

This is one of the biggest misconceptions I’ve come across.

Many people believe:

‘O- can be given to anyone.’

But in reality, transfusion compatibility goes far beyond just ABO and Rh groups.

There are other blood group systems and antibodies that can cause serious reactions if not properly screened.

That’s why compatibility testing (crossmatching) is critical before transfusion.

It’s not just about matching letters. It’s about ensuring safety at a deeper level.

Working in transfusion medicine has shown me how much happens behind the scenes before blood reaches a patient.

The next time you hear ‘universal donor,’ remember it’s not always that simple.

What have you heard about blood groups that you’re not sure is true?”

 

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