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Ch. 19 Blood
Amerman- Human Anatomy & Physiology 3e
Amerman3rd EditionHuman Anatomy & PhysiologyISBN: 9780138247201, 9780138247928, 9780138201814Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksAmerman 3rd EditionCh. 19 BloodProblem L3.3
Chapter 19, Problem L3.3

Ms. Wu, whose blood type is O−, requires a blood transfusion. Her family members volunteer to donate blood. Their blood types are as follows: her son, type B−; her husband, type B+; her daughter, type O+. Which family members could safely donate blood to Ms. Wu? Who could not? Explain.

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Step 1: Understand the compatibility rules for blood transfusions. Blood type compatibility depends on both the ABO blood group system and the Rh factor. Type O− is considered the universal donor but can only receive blood from other O− donors due to the absence of A, B antigens and Rh factor.
Step 2: Analyze Ms. Wu's blood type (O−). Since she is O−, she cannot receive blood from donors with A, B, or AB antigens, nor can she receive blood from Rh-positive donors. This means she can only receive blood from individuals with O− blood type.
Step 3: Evaluate the blood types of her family members. Her son is B−, her husband is B+, and her daughter is O+. None of these blood types match Ms. Wu's O− blood type. Specifically: (a) B− contains the B antigen, which Ms. Wu cannot receive, (b) B+ contains both the B antigen and Rh factor, which Ms. Wu cannot receive, and (c) O+ contains the Rh factor, which Ms. Wu cannot receive.
Step 4: Determine who can safely donate blood to Ms. Wu. Based on the analysis, none of her family members can safely donate blood to her because their blood types are incompatible with her O− blood type.
Step 5: Explain why her family members cannot donate. Blood type compatibility is crucial to prevent immune reactions. If Ms. Wu receives blood with antigens or Rh factors that her immune system does not recognize, it could lead to a severe transfusion reaction. Therefore, she must receive blood from an O− donor.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Blood Type Compatibility

Blood type compatibility is crucial for safe blood transfusions. The ABO blood group system categorizes blood into four types: A, B, AB, and O, based on the presence of antigens. Type O is considered a universal donor for red blood cells, but individuals with type O blood can only receive type O blood. Additionally, the Rh factor (positive or negative) must be considered, as Rh-negative individuals can only receive Rh-negative blood.
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ABO Blood Group System

The ABO blood group system classifies blood based on the presence or absence of A and B antigens on the surface of red blood cells. Type O blood lacks both antigens, making it compatible with any ABO type in terms of red blood cell transfusion. However, individuals with type A or B blood have antibodies against the opposite antigens, which can lead to transfusion reactions if incompatible blood is given.
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Rh Factor

The Rh factor is a protein that can be present on the surface of red blood cells, leading to two classifications: Rh-positive (presence of the protein) and Rh-negative (absence of the protein). For blood transfusions, Rh-negative individuals can only receive Rh-negative blood to avoid immune reactions. In this scenario, Ms. Wu, being O−, can only accept O− blood, making it essential to consider both ABO and Rh compatibility when determining suitable donors.
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