Question

Persons with blood group AB is considered as universal recipient because he has
A. Both A and B antigens on RBC but no antibodies in the plasma.
B. Both A and B antibodies in the plasma.
C. No antigen on RBC and no antibody in the plasma
D. None of the above.

Answer 1

In humans, the blood in different people is classified on the basis of blood group. The grouping of the blood on the basis of the presence and absence of antibodies and antigen substances. The ABO system of classification is the most common and accepted classification system of the blood grouping.

Complete answer:
-The blood groups in humans are classified on the basis of the ABO system and it depends upon the types of antigen and antibody present in the blood. The two antigens are antigen A and antigen B and two antibodies are antibodies A and B. The different types of blood groups are group A, group B, group AB and group O. Group A blood group contains antigen A and antibody B. The group B blood group bears antigen B and antibody A. The blood group that contains both antigen A and B is known as AB blood group whereas the blood group with no antigens at all is known as O blood group.
-The AB blood group contains both the types of antigen, Antigen A and Antigen B. The antigens are present on the surface of the red blood cells or RBCs. On the other hand, the blood plasma of these individuals do not contain any antibodies in the blood plasma. The plasma lacks any of the types of antibodies against the two types of antigens, either antigen A or antigen B.
-During blood transfusion, the person with the AB type of blood group can receive blood from any of the other groups. The other donors such as Group A, B, and O either carry one or none of the antigens and antibodies that are already present in Group AB. The blood of the donors does not evoke any kind of immune reactions upon transfusion when the AB blood type individual receives it. Thus, as the individuals with AB blood group can receive blood from all the different blood groups without any type of hemolytic reaction, these individuals are known as universal recipients.
-In the O blood group, the RBCs do not have any types of antigen. But the plasma contains antibody A and antibody B.
-All the different types of blood group either contain antigen and antibodies or both in the RBCs and blood plasma.

Hence, the correct answer is option (A).

Note: The different types of blood groups in man are group A, group B, group AB and group O. These groups are classified on the basis of the antigens and the antibodies. In the AB blood group, the antigen A and B are present on the surface of the RBCs while it does not contain any antibodies in the plasma. Thus, the individual with AB blood group is known as a universal recipient as he can receive blood from other blood group types.