Question

Blood of AB group cannot be given to B group patient because (a) patient has antibodies \(b\) (b) patient lacks antibodies b (c) patient lacks antibodies a (d) patient has antibodies a.

Short answer

The correct answer is (d) patient has antibodies a.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding Blood Group Compatibility

Blood transfusions must consider the compatibility of antigens on donor red blood cells and antibodies in the recipient's plasma. Group B blood has anti-A antibodies, and AB blood has both A and B antigens.

Identifying the Problem with AB to B Transfusion

When AB blood is given to a group B patient, the anti-A antibodies in the patient's plasma would react with the A antigens on the AB donor red blood cells, leading to a transfusion reaction.

Determining the Correct Answer

Since group B blood contains anti-A antibodies, and AB blood contains A antigens, the correct answer is that the B group patient has antibodies towards the A antigens, which are present in AB blood.

Key concepts

Antigens and Antibodies

When it comes to understanding blood group compatibility, it's vital to first grasp the concepts of antigens and antibodies.

Antigens are substances that can trigger an immune response when detected by the body. They are typically found on the surface of red blood cells. Antibodies, on the other hand, are proteins produced by the immune system that recognize and latch onto these antigens to mark them for destruction.

Each blood group has its unique set of antigens and corresponding antibodies that are not found in the plasma. For instance, type B blood has B antigens with anti-A antibodies in the plasma, and type A blood has A antigens with anti-B antibodies in the plasma.

Why is this important for transfusions?

It is crucial because if you receive blood that has antigens your body recognizes as foreign, this will trigger an immune response, leading to the production of antibodies against these antigens. Such responses can be harmful, so blood transfusions must be carefully matched.

Blood Transfusion Reactions

Blood transfusion reactions occur when the recipient's immune system attacks the donor blood cells, which it perceives as foreign and harmful. This immune response is primarily due to the incompatible antigens present on the surface of the transfused red blood cells.

A transfusion reaction can manifest in various symptoms ranging from fever and chills to more severe complications like acute hemolytic reaction, where the red blood cells are rapidly destroyed, leading to potential life-threatening situations.

Prevention of Transfusion Reactions

To prevent these reactions, thorough testing is performed to ensure that the blood donor and recipient are compatible. It is essential for healthcare providers to adhere to strict blood group compatibility guidelines to protect patients from these adverse effects.

ABO Blood Group System

The ABO blood group system is one of the most significant blood-type classification systems for transfusions. The ABO system categorizes blood into four main types: A, B, AB, and O, based on the presence or absence of A and B antigens.

People with type A blood have A antigens, type B blood have B antigens, AB blood have both A and B antigens, and those with type O blood have neither of these antigens. The presence or absence of these antigens is what determines compatibility for blood transfusions.

For example, those with AB blood can receive blood from all groups as they have no antibodies in the plasma, which makes them universal recipients. However, they can only donate to other AB individuals since their blood contains both A and B antigens.

Understanding Compatibility

That is why AB blood cannot be given to someone with B blood group; the presence of A antigens would cause the recipient's anti-A antibodies to attack the donor blood cells, leading to a transfusion reaction.