For DavidK93?

Question

Well if they do attack then why can you transfuse O blood to A, B and AB patients but not A, B, or AB to O patients. I understand you don't so peoples homework for them so can you 'help me' work it out please.

I just saw that you answered this question for me already, thankyou for your help :)

Answer 1

Although the theory of the answers is excellent I would also like to add something, ...

In a massive transfusion situation where a patient is receiving unit after unit of blood we DO worry about the antibody content of the blood being given. When a patient comes in and needs immediate transfusion we give Oneg (for the reseasons already stated). Yes the Oneg is packed cells with very little serum, but there is serum. After 6, 8, 10 units of blood we get very concerned about the build up of the small portions of serum.

If a patient has received more than 6 units of "trauma blood" and turns out to be A or B, we DO NOT switch over. We keep giving "trauma blood" and start to test for the build up of these antibodies. We would not switch back for several hours later.

Answer 2

I think you're missing the point of his origional question. Someone with type O blood creates anti-A and anti-B antibodies to antigens that we are naturally exposed to that are similar to the A and B antigens in blood. This is why if you were to transfuse someone who is type O with type A or B RBCs the transfusion reaction would be immediate. He is asking why these anti-A and anti-B antibodies that naturally occur in type O blood will not cause a transfusion reaction if given to someone with type A or type B blood. Please see my other post for why this is the case.

Answer 3

To reiterate, the O type blood itself can't attack a body with A, B, or AB blood, because the antigens are generated by the body of the person with O type blood, not by the blood itself.