If type AB+ blood is the universal recipient for blood, why can we donate to AB+ only?

Question

If we can mix with other blood while recieving, whats the difference in donating?

Answer 1

You cannot mix blood. If memory serves me right you have A, B, AB, and O. I know O is the universal dOnor, think AB is the universal recipient. Year since I went to school! In emergency situations they usually have a good supply of all blood groups for transfusion, based on the facts that X% of the population is A and so on. Problems arise when you have a AB Patient who needs AB crossmatch blood or AB blood and they have zero in store, then the fun starts! The + or - are again issues. Therefore less risk of AB+ donating to AB+ receipiant.

Answer 2

The A, the B, and the + (positive) all refer to different antigens in the bloodstream. A person with AB+ has all three antigens while a person with O- has none. If, then, you are A+, you have the A-antigen as well as the presence of a RhD antigen, which the + connotes. You also then have a B antibody present. If a A+ received AB+ blood, the presence of the B antibody in the A+ blood would react poorly with the B-antigen.

Think of it it terms of what is there. O- can give to anyone because it won't be a risk to other blood type's antibodies. While AB+ would be disastrous for an O- recipient.

You can read more in the article cited.

Answer 3

Because when you DONATE you are the DONOR, not the recipient. Only a person with AB blood can accept AB blood.
O (universal donor) can give blood to O, A, B or AB
AB (universal recipient) can accept blood from O, A, B, AB

Answer 4

Type A blood can't receive type B and B can't receive A. Since AB has both neither one can take that type of blood. Type O can give to anyone.

Answer 5

Who knows, because thats how science is... All i know is my blood type is O and it tastes good. Haha