Which one of the following blood group is universal recipient?

RRB Staff Nurse Kolkata-2015

Applied Physiology

Easy

Appeared in: RRB Staff Nurse Kolkata-2015

Explanation

Individuals with AB blood group are called universal recipients.
Their plasma does not contain any antibodies (agglutinins), specifically neither anti-A nor anti-B antibodies.
The absence of these antibodies means their immune system will not attack red blood cells from any other ABO blood type (A, B, AB, or O).
Therefore, they can safely receive blood from donors of any ABO group.

Option A: Individuals with blood group A have anti-B antibodies in their plasma. Receiving blood with B antigens (from group B or AB) would cause a transfusion reaction.
Option B: Blood group O is the universal donor, not the universal recipient. Individuals with group O have both anti-A and anti-B antibodies in their plasma, meaning they can only receive type O blood.
Option D: Individuals with blood group B have anti-A antibodies in their plasma. Receiving blood with A antigens (from group A or AB) would cause a transfusion reaction.

Visual 1: Diagram - An infographic illustrating the four main blood types (A, B, AB, O), showing the antigens present on the red blood cells and the antibodies present in the plasma for each type.
Visual 2: Flowchart - A compatibility chart showing which blood types can donate to and receive from each other, visually highlighting why AB is the universal recipient and O is the universal donor.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing ABO blood group system and blood transfusion compatibility helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Accurate blood typing and cross-matching are critical nursing responsibilities before any blood transfusion to prevent life-threatening hemolytic transfusion reactions.
A nurse must verify the patient's blood type and the donor blood type with another registered nurse at the bedside before starting the infusion.
What if? If a patient with AB-positive blood needs a transfusion but only O-negative blood is available, this is a safe and acceptable alternative. O-negative is the universal donor and can be given to patients of any blood type, especially in emergencies when the patient's blood type is unknown.

How to Approach the Question

First, understand the question is asking for the 'universal recipient', which means the blood type that can receive blood from all other types.
Recall the basics of the ABO blood group system: blood types are determined by antigens on red blood cells and antibodies in the plasma.
Remember the rule of transfusion: the recipient's antibodies must not react with the donor's antigens.
Analyze the options: A person can receive blood if they do not have antibodies against the donor's antigens.
Blood group AB has both A and B antigens but lacks both anti-A and anti-B antibodies in the plasma.
Conclude that because group AB has no antibodies to attack other blood cells, it can receive blood from A, B, AB, and O, making it the universal recipient.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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