Persons with type AB blood are sometimes called universal donors.
A.
True
B.
False
The correct answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is B. False.
Persons with type AB blood are not universal donors; they are actually known as universal recipients when it comes to blood transfusions. To understand this, let’s delve into blood typing and transfusion compatibility.
Blood Typing and Antigens
Blood type is determined by the presence or absence of specific antigens (proteins) on the surface of red blood cells. The four main blood types are:
- A: Has A antigens on red blood cells and anti-B antibodies in the plasma.
- B: Has B antigens on red blood cells and anti-A antibodies in the plasma.
- AB: Has both A and B antigens on red blood cells but no anti-A or anti-B antibodies.
- O: Has no A or B antigens but both anti-A and anti-B antibodies.
Universal Donor vs. Universal Recipient
- Type O-negative is known as the universal donor for red blood cells. This is because type O-negative blood has no A or B antigens, which means it will not trigger an immune response in recipients of any blood type. Therefore, O-negative blood can be safely given to patients with any blood type in emergencies.
- Type AB-positive, on the other hand, is considered the universal recipient for red blood cells. People with AB blood have both A and B antigens, meaning they do not produce antibodies against either antigen. As a result, they can receive blood from any ABO type (A, B, AB, or O).
However, when considering plasma donations, AB blood type is considered the universal donor for plasma. This is because type AB plasma does not contain anti-A or anti-B antibodies, making it compatible for transfusion to individuals of any ABO blood type.
In summary, persons with type AB blood are universal recipients for red blood cells but universal donors for plasma.