Universal donor blood group is?

Appeared in: BSF Staff Nurse - 2021

Explanation

Blood group O is known as the universal donor.
This is because its red blood cells (RBCs) lack both A and B antigens on their surface.
The absence of these antigens means it will not trigger an immune reaction when transfused into individuals of other blood types (A, B, or AB).
Specifically, O-negative blood is the true universal donor as it also lacks the RhD antigen, making it the safest choice in emergencies when the patient's blood type is unknown.

Option A: Blood group A has A antigens on its RBCs. This will cause a significant immune reaction if transfused into people with blood types B or O, as their plasma contains anti-A antibodies.
Option B: Blood group B has B antigens on its RBCs. This will trigger an immune reaction in people with blood types A or O, who have anti-B antibodies in their plasma.
Option C: Blood group AB has both A and B antigens on its RBCs, making it the least compatible for donation to other groups. It is known as the universal recipient, not the universal donor.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing ABO Blood Group System and Transfusion Compatibility helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Understanding blood compatibility is a fundamental safety principle in nursing, critical for preventing life-threatening hemolytic transfusion reactions.
In emergency situations where a patient's blood type is unknown, nurses anticipate the use of O-negative blood for transfusion to prevent catastrophic immune responses.
Knowledge of blood groups is also vital for counseling pregnant women, particularly regarding Rh incompatibility between mother and fetus.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question testing fundamental knowledge of hematology.
Identify the core concept in the question: 'universal donor'.
Recall the characteristics of the ABO blood groups. The key is to remember which antigens are on the red blood cells (RBCs) and which antibodies are in the plasma for each group.
The term 'donor' refers to the antigens on the donated RBCs. A 'universal' donor must lack antigens that would react with a recipient's antibodies.
Evaluate the options: Group O has no A or B antigens on its RBCs, so it won't be attacked by anti-A or anti-B antibodies in the recipient's plasma. This makes it the universal donor.
Contrast this with other groups: A, B, and AB all have antigens that would cause a reaction in incompatible recipients, ruling them out as universal donors.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 PATHOLOGY QUICK REVIEWBased on Harsh Mohan Textbook of PATHOLOGY p. 137-139

E6 Physiology Essentials Sembulingam 10e Part 1 pp. 146-148, 147-149

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