Kidney Donation: Can an O+ Donor Give to an O− Recipient?

No. An O+ donor cannot give a kidney to an O− recipient.

Why

• O− RBCs lack A, B, and Rh(D) antigens.
• O+ RBCs have Rh(D) antigen.
• O− recipient has anti‑D antibodies (if previously sensitized) or will produce them → hyperacute/acute rejection of Rh+ kidney.

Compatibility Rules

• Kidney transplant requires ABO compatibility (same as transfusion).
• Rh mismatch (donor +, recipient −) is generally avoided due to anti‑D risk, though some protocols use desensitization.
• O− is universal RBC donor but can only receive O− organs.
• O+ can donate to O+, A+, B+, AB+.

Paired exchange or desensitization may enable incompatible pairs. Always determined by transplant center crossmatch.