Typically people with AB blood were called universal recipients What is the rationale for this term?

Answer 1

Because they have no antibodies and can recognize both A, B, AB, and O donors. Their immune system has seen the "A" sugar and "B" sugar and "O" is acceptable because it is recessive to A and B (O is the universal donor)...

Answer 2

Blood type AB is the universal recipient because individuals who have blood type AB do not have the antibodies. They do not have the anti-A or Anti-B antibodies. They can receive all types of blood types: A,B,O,AB I'm sure you've heard that a universal blood donor can give blood to anyone, and that a universal recipient can receive blood from anyone. It's not true when "Whole blood" from a donor is given. Whole blood consists of red cells, white cells, platelets and other components floating in plasma. Therefore, whole blood can only be given to someone who has the exact same blood type. Giving whole blood from a "universal donor" to someone of a different blood type would cause a transfusion reaction and most likely result in death. What the universal donor and recipient rule refers to is "packed red cells." Current blood bank processes sort these components into their own separate bags for use when needed. The packed red cells, not whole blood, are the component that is usually administered during a blood transfusion.

Answer 3

The reason that AB blood types are universal recipients is because by having both A and B type antigens, they don't have the antibodies that A - blood types have against B-type blood and vice versa. This means that they can receive A type blood, B-type blood, O-type Blood (Universal Donor) or AB type blood.

Hope that answered your question.

Answer 4

Every individual belongs to one of 4 blood grooups, which are determined by markers on red blood cells (erythrocytes) known as antigens (agglutinogens). The antigens may either be A, B, both A and B (AB), or neither (O). The blood group A has A antigens with B antibodies contained in the plasma. The blood group B has B antigens and the plasma contains A antibodies. The blood goup O lacks A and B antigens but the plasma contains both A and b antibodies. The blood group AB has A and B antigens with neither A nor B in plasma. Source: The Human Body Book. So, the reason why AB blood is called the universal recipient is because it contains both A and B antigens.

Answer 5

it deals with different blood types having different antibodies.

blood is typed by its antigens- type "A"- A antigens, B - B antigens, AB-AB antigens

type "O" blood has no antigens

since type "O" blood has no antigens it is the universal donor and is compatible with all blood types. "O" blood is only compatible with "O" blood.

blood type "A" has "B" antibodies and therefore is not compatible with "B" blood

blood type "B" has "A" antibodies and therefore is not compatible with "A" blood

blood type "O" has "A" & "B" antibodies and therefore is not compatible with "A", "B", or "AB"

blood type "AB" has no antibodies. since "AB" has neither A or B antibodies it can accept type "A", "B", "AB", and of course the universal donor "O".

Answer 6

Because AB type blood can accept all other blood types whereas O can only accept O and so forth

Answer 7

They can receive blood from any blood group. People with AB blood groups have anti A and anti B proteins on the cell surface, this means that agglutination cannot occur.

Answer 8

People with AB blood are referred to as universal recipients due to the fact that they have both the A antigen and the B antigen