Question

______ group individuals are called universal recipients.

• A. O
• B. AB
• C. A
• D. B

Answer 1

The correct option is B AB

The plasma of different individuals contain two natural antibodies (proteins produced in response to antigens) namely A and B with respect to blood group. If an antigen is mixed with its corresponding antibody then it leads to agglutination (clumping). Hence, blood groups with antigen A on its surface should not contain antibody A in its plasma.

Person with ‘AB’ group can accept blood from a person with AB as well as the other groups of blood. Therefore, such people are called ‘universal recipients’. As AB blood group has no antibody, it will not form agglutination (clumping) with antigens of other blood groups.

$\begin{array}{cccc}\text{Blood group}& \text{Antigens on RBCs}& \text{Antibodies in Plasma}& \text{Donor's Group}\\ \text{A}& \text{A}& \text{anti-B}& \text{A,O}\\ \text{B}& \text{B}& \text{anti-A}& \text{B,O}\\ \text{AB}& \text{A,B}& \text{nil}& \text{AB, A, B, O}\\ \text{O}& \text{nil}& \text{anti-A, B}& \text{O}\end{array}$