What would happen if you have and O blood type individual a transfusion of AB type blood?
Authors: Sophie Chargé, PhD, and Kendra Hodgkinson, PhD With every heartbeat, about five litres of blood are pumped through your body. Blood flows through thousands of kilometres of blood vessels,
delivering oxygen and nutrients to the organs and carrying waste products away. Blood also transports cells, hormones and proteins that regulate many body functions, such as fighting infection and controlling blood loss. Blood is composed of four components: red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma.
White blood cells
Platelets
Plasma
What are blood groups?Blood groups are genetic, like the colour of a person’s eyes. There are four major blood groups: A, B, AB and O. Blood groups are based on red blood cell antigens, which are proteins on the cell surface that are recognized by a person’s immune system. If an antigen is identified as “non-self” by the immune system, the cell is targeted for destruction by antibodies. Group A has one type of antigen (A), Group B has a different type (B), Group AB has both A and B antigens, and Group O does not have either antigen. These blood groups are further divided by whether or not an antigen called the Rh factor is present on the person’s blood cells. If it is present, that person’s blood is Rh positive (+); if not, the blood is Rh negative (-). Combining Rh factor with the four major blood types results in eight different main blood types (for example, AB-). In addition, there are minor blood groups. An individual of a certain blood type will develop antibodies against the antigens that they don’t have. For example, a Blood Group A individual has no B antigens on their red blood cells; therefore, this person’s white blood cells will make antibodies against the B antigen (anti-B) that will be present in their plasma. In transfusion medicine, it is very important that patients receive red blood cells that are compatible with their blood type. It is also important that plasma recipients are not transfused with plasma that contains antibodies that will destroy their red blood cells. Blood types can be determined quickly by mixing a few drops of someone’s blood with anti-A, anti-B or anti-Rh antibodies and seeing which antibodies make the red blood cells clump together. This clumping happens when the antibodies match the antigens present on the red blood cells; for example, if someone’s blood clumps with anti-A but not with anti-B antibodies, this shows that the blood has A (but not B) antigens, making that person type A. In transfusion medicine, sophisticated assays are used to appropriately type the blood of the donor and of the patient. What is meant by a blood match?In the context of blood transfusions, a blood match is a compatibility between the donor’s blood and the recipient’s blood. This does not always mean an identical blood match. Red blood cells from a donor that is type O+ can be transfused into patients of four different blood types: A+, B+, AB+, and of course O+. People with type O- blood are called universal donors because their donated red blood cells have no A, B or Rh antigens and can therefore be safely given to people of any blood group. People with type AB+ blood are universal recipients because they have no antibodies to A, B or Rh in their blood and can receive red blood cells from a donor of any blood type. Plasma transfusions are matched to avoid A and B antibodies in the transfused plasma that will attack the recipient’s red blood cells. People with type AB blood are universal plasma donors. Their plasma does not contain A or B antibodies and can be transfused safely to all blood types. Table 1. Blood type and compatibility.
AcknowledgementsThis information is adapted from content developed by Canadian Blood Services for the Learning to Save Lives program. This program supports educators who are teaching concepts related to blood, stem cells, and tissue and organ donations. What happens if Type O receives type AB?Type O blood does not cause an immune response when it is given to people with type A, type B, or type AB blood. This is why type O blood cells can be given to people of any blood type. People with type O blood are called universal donors. But people with type O can only receive type O blood.
Could a person with type O blood safely receive a blood transfusion of AB blood?ABO blood types
If you have type O blood, you can only get type O red blood cell transfusions. But you can give your red blood cells to people with type A, B, AB, or O blood, which is why you are sometimes called a universal donor. (Universal donor blood cells are typically only used in emergencies.
What happens if you transfuse someone with the wrong blood type?Transfusion with the wrong blood type can cause a severe reaction that may be life-threatening. If you have many blood transfusions, you are more likely to have problems from immune system reactions. A reaction causes your body to form antibodies that attack the new blood cells. But tests can help avoid this.
Why can you transfuse type O blood into a type AB individual?People with type O- blood are called universal donors because their donated red blood cells have no A, B or Rh antigens and can therefore be safely given to people of any blood group.
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