Blood groups and transfusions.....

[Cheman]

I have learnt that when you transfuse the wrong blood to a recipient whose antibodies work against the donated blood that agglutination occurs. eg - if you transfuse A blood to a B person, since the B person will possess anti-A antibodies which will cause agglutination, but an AB person can recieve A blood because their blood contains no antibodies.

But surely the donated A blood would contain some anti-B antibodies which would cause agglutination of the red blood cells in the AB person? Why does this not happen? ie - we still call the AB a universal recipient.

Thanks.

[iansmith]

But surely the donated A blood would contain some anti-B antibodies which would cause agglutination of the red blood cells in the AB person? Why does this not happen? ie - we still call the AB a universal recipient.


It does happen on some occassion but people of group AB will preferentially receive blood from an AB person rather than anyone else.

You also have to note the amount of anti-B antibodies in the transfused blood might be not sufficient to cause a significant immune responce in certain individuals.

[Cheman]

Please could people elaborate?