Explain why a person with type AB blood can donate blood only to a person with the same?

Answer 1

A person with A-type can also donate to someone with AB-type as well, provided there is no conflict with any other bloodtyping (rhesus positive or negative being the major one). This is because antibodies on the blood cells in the donor are treated as invaders if they are not the right type. The recipient's body then acts in the same way as it would when fighting off a normal virus or invader; they attack the foreign cells and this creates clots throughout the circulatory system. This poses serious risks to the recipient, as they can block the arteries and veins and cause hypoxia and anaemia, as well as heart problems with life at major risk.

Answer 2

Each blood type has it's identifying proteins, and will reject blood with the wrong proteins. Type A blood is anti-B, type B blood is anti-A, type O blood has both, and type AB blood has neither. Imagine if someone with AB blood tried to donate to someone with A. AB blood has identifying proteins A and B. The type A blood would recognize the B proteins and kill the cells. The same thing would happen with B, which would recognize the A proteins and kill the cells. Type O blood would recognize and reject both the A and B proteins and reject them. However, if someone who is type AB gives to AB people, their blood does not destroy neither protein A nor B, so it would accept it.

Answer 3

Since Type AB red cells have both A & B membrane bound sugars, transfusion into recipients other than type AB would trigger an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction, leading to renal failure and possible death.

Type AB blood donors may provide whole blood or red cells to AB recipients (respective for Rh compatibility), platelets to any recipient (also respecting for Rh compatibility) and fresh frozen plasma to any recipient (Rh is of no concern with FFP).