Aimed at the bio geeks out there
So, I was reviewing blood types in my Med/Surg class, and it brought up a question.
Type O- is the universal donor blood because the RBCs do not have A or B antigens on their surface. However, type O- blood does have Anti-A and Anti-B serum antibodies in it. If a type A, type B, or type AB person receives an infusion of whole blood from a type O- donor, won't those antibodies be present and react with the antigens on the recipient's blood cells? Why isn't this a problem?
Type O- is the universal donor blood because the RBCs do not have A or B antigens on their surface. However, type O- blood does have Anti-A and Anti-B serum antibodies in it. If a type A, type B, or type AB person receives an infusion of whole blood from a type O- donor, won't those antibodies be present and react with the antigens on the recipient's blood cells? Why isn't this a problem?