Unless rare antigens are present ideally, a patient needing a transfusion will receive blood of the identical blood type. But in an emergency, what blood type can be given in a transfusion to anyone?

Question

A.  AB Rh-positive
B.  AB Rh-negative
C.  O Rh-negative
D.  O Rh-positive
E.  A Rh-positive


Clarify Question
What is the key concept addressed by the question?
What type of thinking is required?
 
Gather Content
What do you already know about blood typing? What other information is related to the question?
  Choose Answer
Given what you now know, what information is most likely to produce the correct answer?
 
Reflect on Process
Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?
 

Answer 1

C.  O Rh-negative


Clarify Question
What is the key concept addressed by the question?
        · This question is asking about the blood type that would be unlikely to cause a transfusion reaction.
What type of thinking is required?
        · Apply level:
            o You are being asked to take what you already know and use, or apply, it to the safe transfusion of blood based on blood typing.
 
Gather Content
What do you already know about blood typing? What other information is related to the question?
        · Blood cells contain markers, or antigens, that are genetically determined.
        · The names of blood types are references to the antigens that are present.
        · Type A blood has A antigens.
        · Type B blood has B antigens.
        · Type AB blood has both A and B antigens.
        · Type O blood has neither A nor B antigens.
        · Rh factor refers to another antigen.
        · Rh positive blood has the Rh antigen, while Rh negative blood lacks the Rh antigen.
        · Humans are form with antibodies, or immune defenses, against A or B antigens if their blood type does not include those antigens.
        · Someone with type A blood is born with type B antibodies.
        · A person with type B blood has type A antibodies.
        · When like antigens and antibodies encounter each other, blood clotting occurs.
        · For instance, if a person with type A blood (who would also have type B antibodies) receives type B blood (that would have type A antibodies) by mistake, a transfusion reaction, or massive clotting, would occur.
  Choose Answer
Given what you now know, what information is most likely to produce the correct answer?
        · To safely receive blood, a person must not have antibodies against the antigens.
        · As long as no rare antigens are present, a person can receive type O- blood in an emergency, since O- blood does not contain A , B, or Rh antigens and would not stimulate an immune response in a recipient since it lacks those antigens.
        · People with type O- blood are called “universal donors” since they can donate blood to anyone unless rare antigens are present.
        · Before transfusion occurs, a test called a cross match occurs. This test mixes a few drops of the recipient and donor blood in the lab to be sure no unforeseen reaction occurs.
 
Reflect on Process
Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?
        · Apply level:
            o Answering this question correctly depended on your ability to use the markers on red blood cells in a new situation. If you got an incorrect answer, did you remember that blood type is a reference to which antigens are present, or that antibodies react with antigens to form clots if the wrong type of blood is transfused? Did you have trouble extending blood typing to determine the correct answer?