Blood Types and Transfusions.

Question about blood types & blood transfusions?

• I understand how blood types work. But take this scenario : Giving O blood to any other blood type. wouldnt the A and B antibodies that O has be transferred to the other blood? Those antibodies would attack and make the recipient blood clump. So why doesnt clumping happen?

• Answer:

  1. First, Type specific blood is given in every instance when feasible. Even in an emergency blood is quick typed & the person is switched to type specific. 2. second, packed cells are given, not whole blood (or even washed), the antibodies are int he plasma, so very little are given in packed cells. A person getting non typed blood is usually bleeding out too fast for the tiny amount of antibodies to be a concern.