Blood Types and Transfusions

TYPE	ANTIGEN (AGGLUTINOGEN)	ANTIBODY (AGGLUTININ)	CAN GET FROM	CAN GIVE TO
A	A	ANTI B	A, 0	A, AB
B	B	ANTI A	B, 0	B, AB
AB	AB	NONE	A, B, AB, 0 (Universal Recipient)	AB
0	0	ANTI A, ANTI B	0	A, B, AB, 0 (Universal Donor)

Blood Types
* Blood types are an antigen/antibody system.
      Δ With blood, antigens are called agglutinogens, and antibodies are called agglutinins.
*Blood types are named for the antigen present.
      Δ Type 0 has no antigens and is actually type "zero" .
*Each blood type has antibodies to protect against foreign blood.

Transfusions
*Most important in transfusions is knowing the antibodies in the patient.
      Δ The patient's antibodies determine what blood they can't be given, and, thus, what blood they can be given.
*The "can give to" column can be determined from the "can get from" column.
*Type 0 is the universal donor.
    Δ Dr. Wiseman says, "If you don't know what antibodies a patient has, give blood with no antigens!"