Blood transfusion is common in medical treatment procedures. It involves the transfer of blood from one person to another person. The transfusion might involve whole blood, components of blood such as plasma or red blood cells. One of the things that medical professionals consider when prescribing blood transfusion is the blood type of the donor and the receiver.
This article aims to explore the essential facts and tips about blood type when it comes to blood transfusion, specifically what blood type can a negative receive.
Understanding Blood Types and Blood Types Compatibility
Humans have different blood types. There are classified by the inherited characteristics on the surface of red blood cells as either protein “antigens” or antibodies. Blood type is one of the critical markers in blood transfusion. It determines the compatibility of the donated blood with the recipient blood.
The Blood Types and Their Compatibilities
The blood types are classified into three major categories: A, B, and O. Each of these categories can be either Rhesus (Rh) positive or negative. The Rhesus factor is a protein that is present on the surface of the red blood cells. The blood types are:
Blood Type A+
People with the blood type A+ have red blood cells that contain A antigens on the surface of the cells and Rh factor protein. They can receive blood types A+ and O+. They can donate blood to those with type A+ and AB+.
Blood Type A-
People with blood type A- have red blood cells with only A antigen and do not contain Rh factor protein. They can receive blood from A- and O-. They can donate only to those with type A- and type AB-.
Blood Type B+
The blood type B+ has red blood cells that contain B antigens, and Rh factor protein. They can receive blood from B+ and O+. They can donate blood to people with type B+ and type AB+.
Blood Type B-
People with blood type B- have red blood cells with only B antigen and do not contain Rh factor protein. They can receive blood from blood types B- and O-. They can donate blood to only those with type B- and type AB-.
Blood Type AB+
The blood type AB+ has red blood cells that contain A and B antigens and Rh factor protein. They can receive blood from all blood types (A+, A-, B+, B-, O+, O-, AB+, AB-). They can donate to only type AB+.
Blood Type AB-
People with blood type AB- have red blood cells with only A and B antigens and do not contain Rh factor protein. They can receive blood from AB-, A-, B-, O-. They can donate to only type AB- and type AB+.
Blood Type O+
People with blood type O+ have red blood cells without any antigen on the surface of the cells, but they have Rh factor protein. They can receive blood from O+ and O-. They can donate blood to people with type A+, B+, AB+, O+.
Blood Type O-
People with blood type O- have red blood cells without any antigen on the surface of the cells or Rh factor protein. They can receive blood from O-. They can donate to all blood types.
What Blood Type Can A Negative Receive?
People with negative blood types can only receive blood from those with negative blood types. The blood types that Rh-negative people can receive blood from are as follows:
- O- blood type- this is the universal blood type that any rhesus-negative person can receive without experiencing any adverse reactions
- A- blood type can receive blood type A- and O-
- B- blood type can receive blood type B- and O-
- AB- blood type can receive blood type AB-, B-, A-, and O-
Who Can Donate Blood to People With Negative Blood Type?
The Rh-negative blood is relatively rare, making up only 15% of the population. Therefore, it is essential to identify blood donors with negative blood types to ensure the safety and success of the transfusion. The following blood types are compatible with Rh-negative blood types:
- Rh-negative blood type can donate to all Rh-negative blood types
- O- blood type can donate to all people with Rh-negative blood types
Why is Rh Compatibility Important When it comes to Blood Transfusion?
Blood transfusion involves the injection of foreign proteins into the bloodstream of a person. The immune system of the recipient might see the blood being transfused as foreign and create an immune response. In the case of Rh-Incompatibility, the body of the receiving person might create antibodies against the Rh factor protein present in the donor blood. If such a person receives transfusion from rhesus positive blood types, they risk developing hemolytic disease of the newborn or erythroblastosis fetalis.
The Bottomline
Blood transfusion is a vital medical procedure, and understanding your blood type and its compatibility with possible donors is essential. For Rh-negative people, only negative blood types are compatible, but that does not mean they have to sacrifice their health in case of transfusions. By enrolling in blood donor programs, you can become a part of saving millions of lives each year.
Unordered List of the Most Common Questions and their Answers
- What blood type can A negative receive?
- A negative can receive blood from O negative, A negative, and O positive transfusions.
- Is O Negative the only universal blood type?
- Yes, O negative is the only universal blood type, and any individual can receive it, regardless of their blood type.
- Can B negative receive blood from O positive?
- No, B negative cannot receive blood from O positive because it contains ABO antibodies that can react with the ABO antigens present in O positive blood.
- Can an A negative twin have a B positive twin?
- Yes, this is possible in cases of fraternal (non-identical) twins, where each twin inherits different genes from their parents to determine their blood type independently.
References
– National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Blood Transfusion. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/blood-transfusion
– American Red Cross. Blood Types. https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/blood-types.
– WHO. Blood Safety and Availability. https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/blood-safety-and-availability