People with Type AB Blood are Considered the "Universal Recipient

Question

People with type AB blood are considered the "universal recipient" for transfusions because
A) their blood cells lack A and B antigens.
B) their blood lacks A or B agglutinins.
C) their blood is plentiful in A and B agglutinins.
D) they usually have very strong immune systems.
E) they are usually Rh negative.

Accepted Answer

People with type AB blood lack the A and B antigens on their red blood cells, but they have both A and B agglutinins in their plasma. This means that their body has both the antibodies necessary to fight against both A and B types of blood. As a result, they can receive transfusions from donors with any blood type without experiencing a transfusion reaction.