![]() ![]() When O negative blood is transfused into a recipient, it can slip in undetected, and do all the good things blood does without triggering an immune response. Without these, there’s nothing to alert the recipient’s immune system. The letter ‘O’ indicates an absence of A and B antigens, while ‘negative’ indicates the absence of the Rh factor (RhD). Unlike the other key blood types, O negative is missing all highly reactive antigens – that’s why it’s called ‘O negative’. Today, identifying a person’s blood type is as easy as a simple needle prick, but in an emergency, every second counts and that’s where O negative can save the day. Thanks to innovations in medical technology cases like this are extremely rare. This can cause clotting, kidney failure and even death. In response, antibodies are released and seek out the red blood cells, binding to their antigens. All it sees is a wave of foreign cells invading the body and it mounts an attack. If a recipient receives a transfusion with a different blood type, their immune system doesn’t care if these new red blood cells are there to help. The problem is, they can be overprotective. Now you might be wondering, if antibodies protect us from disease, aren’t they a good thing? And the answer is yes, all antibodies want to do is protect you. If you’ve ever had a cold or infection your body would have used antibodies to help fight it off. Part of this immune response includes the release of specialised molecules known as antibodies, which have been trained to hunt down foreign antigens, bind to them and neutralize the threat. If these substances enter our system, our body identifies the foreign antigens as a threat and triggers an immune response. They’re also key to understanding why O negative blood is so special and why some blood types just shouldn’t mix.Īntigens aren’t just found in our blood, they can be found in all kinds of organisms and substances like viruses, bacteria, or toxins. These antigens appear in different combinations to create the 8 key blood types, plus a range of lesser-known blood groups. This puzzle led to the discovery of blood types and the tiny molecules that make them possible: antigens.Īntigens can be found on the surface of red blood cells and determine which blood type we have. In the 19th century, long after ‘doctors’ realised milk and wine were not appropriate substitutes for blood (medicine has come a long way), physicians still couldn’t figure out why some patients recovered after receiving a blood transfusion and others didn’t. What is your blood type? Donate and find out.What makes O negative blood the universal blood type General health June09Įvery blood type is vital, but only O negative can be safely given to all recipients. Nearly 16 million blood components are transfused each year in the U.S." For more about plasma donation, visit the plasma donation facts. The universal plasma donor has Type AB blood. ![]() The universal red cell donor has Type O negative blood. The need for O+ is high because it is the most frequently occurring blood type (37% of the population). However, the need for O negative blood is the highest because it is used most often during emergencies. Only 7% of the population are O negative. Types O negative and O positive are in high demand. ![]() Minority and diverse populations, therefore, play a critical role in meeting the constant need for blood. Type O is routinely in short supply and in high demand by hospitals – both because it is the most common blood type and because type O negative blood is the universal blood type needed for emergency transfusions and for immune deficient infants.Īpproximately 45 percent of Caucasians are type O (positive or negative), but 51 percent of African-Americans and 57 percent of Hispanics are type O. Why? O negative blood can be used in transfusions for any blood type. Universal donors are those with an O negative blood type. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |