Universal recipient of blood group is?

Appeared in: NHM MP Staff Nurse - 2015

Explanation

Individuals with the AB blood group are known as 'universal recipients'.
This is because their red blood cells (RBCs) have both A and B antigens on their surface.
Crucially, their plasma does not contain anti-A or anti-B antibodies.
The absence of these antibodies means their immune system will not attack RBCs from A, B, AB, or O blood donors, allowing them to receive blood from any ABO group.

Option A: O negative is the 'universal donor,' not the universal recipient. Their RBCs lack A and B antigens, so they can be safely given to patients of any blood type.
Option C: Individuals with A group blood have anti-B antibodies in their plasma. They can only receive blood from A and O groups.
Option D: Individuals with B group blood have anti-A antibodies in their plasma. They can only receive blood from B and O groups.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Blood group compatibility and the concept of a universal recipient helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Knowing the universal recipient and donor is critical in emergency medicine for rapid transfusions when a patient's blood type is unknown or type-specific blood is unavailable.
Despite the 'universal' labels, cross-matching is always performed before non-emergency transfusions to check for other potential incompatibilities and prevent transfusion reactions.
What if the patient is AB negative? They are still a universal recipient for red blood cells from all ABO groups, but should ideally receive only Rh-negative blood (O-, A-, B-, AB-) to prevent Rh sensitization, which can cause complications in future pregnancies or transfusions.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key term in the question: 'Universal recipient'.
Recall the basic principles of the ABO blood group system, focusing on antigens (on RBCs) and antibodies (in plasma).
A 'recipient' can receive blood if they do not have antibodies that will attack the donor's antigens.
The 'universal recipient' must therefore lack both anti-A and anti-B antibodies.
Recall that the AB blood group has both A and B antigens on its cells and, consequently, has no anti-A or anti-B antibodies in its plasma.
Therefore, the AB group can receive blood from any other group. Select the option corresponding to 'AB group'.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Blood group compatibility and the concept of a universal recipient.
Stem keywords: Universal recipient, blood group
Lead-in keywords: is

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