Individuals with type AB blood can receive blood from which blood types?

Individuals with type AB blood are considered universal recipients when it comes to blood transfusions. This is because they have both A and B antigens on their red blood cells, which means they can recognize and accept red blood cells that display either of these antigens without triggering an immune response.

Type A blood contains A antigens, type B blood has B antigens, type O blood lacks both A and B antigens (making it type O universally acceptable), and type AB blood contains both. Therefore, a person with AB blood can receive red blood cells from type A, type B, type AB, and type O without the risk of agglutination, a process wherein the immune system reacts against foreign blood cells.

The ability to accept all blood types makes individuals with type AB blood particularly fortunate when needing a transfusion, as they have the broadest compatibility. This concept is foundational in transfusion medicine and underscores the importance of understanding blood types in clinical settings.