Our Blood Institute is declaring an emergency blood shortage and asking donors of all blood types, especially O-negative and B-negative, to give immediately as blood inventory levels continue to decline and hospitals rely on a shrinking supply to support patient care.
As of Monday, June 15, 2026, ONI‘s O-negative inventory stood at just 65 units systemwide, representing less than a oneday supply.
The situation has become especially urgent because efforts to import enough O-negative blood from other blood centers to support OBI‘s needs were unsuccessful. Blood centers across the country are facing similar shortages, leaving little excess inventory available to share.
Typically, when inventories become critically low, blood centers can work together to move blood products where they are needed most,“ said Dr. John Armitage, president and CEO of Our Blood Institute. „Right now, there simply isn‘t a safety net. Communities across the country are facing the same challenges, making local blood donation more important than ever.“ Without immediate donor help, hospitals may be forced to delay some surgeries and non-emergency procedures in order to preserve blood for trauma patients, cancer treatments, childbirth complications and other life-threatening emergencies.
While donations of all blood types are urgently needed, O-negative and B-negative donors are especially encouraged to give.
O-negative blood is known as the universal blood type because it can be safely transfused to patients of any blood type during emergencies when there is no time to determine a patient‘s blood type. It is frequently used in trauma situations and is often the first blood administered to critically injured patients.