Why can people with type AB blood receive red blood cells from all ABO blood types?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Blood transfusion — blood transfusion Depiction of a direct blood transfusion performed in 1882.

People with type AB blood are considered universal recipients of red blood cells because their blood lacks the antibodies that would attack A or B antigens.1

In the ABO blood group system, an individual's blood type is determined by the presence or absence of specific antigens on the surface of their red blood cells. Individuals produce antibodies in their serum that oppose any antigens they do not possess themselves.2345

Because type AB individuals have both A and B antigens on their red cells, they do not produce anti-A or anti-B antibodies. Consequently, they can receive red blood cells from donors with type A, type B, type AB, or type O blood without triggering an immune reaction, such as agglutination or the destruction of the transfused cells.13