Question

Why is it important to determine the blood types of the donor and the recipient in transfusions?

Answer 1

It is important to determine the blood types of the donor and the recipient in transfusions because if mismatched blood is transfused in a recipient then there will be clumping, haemolysis breakdown of red blood cells and anaphylactic shock and the recipient may die. As the antibodies of one may attack the antigens of the other.

If the recipient blood cells have surface molecules that are different from those of the donor, antibodies in the recipient's blood recognize the donor blood as foreign , then it causes an immune response that results in blood clotting.