Depending upon the compatibility of antigen A and B with antibodies a and b, human blood can be classified into four groups: A, B, AB and O. Every human being has one of these blood groups. Blood transfusion is successful between the persons having some blood groups or certain special groups as shown in the table.
If you carefully observe the table you will find that a person having blood group O can give blood to all the groups. Hence, a person having blood group O is called universal donor. On the other hand, a person having blood group AB can receive blood from all the groups and hence, a person having blood group AB is called universal recipient.
Test Your Understanding and Answer These Questions:
- What is universal donor?
- What is universal recipient?
- Name the four blood groups in human beings.
- Name the blood groups called as universal donor and universal recipient.
- Hema’s blood group is A, Vivek’s blood group is O and Shikha’s blood group is AB. Who can receive blood from whom and donate blood to whom?