Question

Sometimes patients will be given packed red blood cells, from which the serum has been removed. If a person is blood type B+, from which blood types could they receive packed red blood cells without risk of an adverse reaction?

Answer 1

Packed red blood cells or PRBCs are the blood trasfudion product prepare from whole blood by centrifugation. The plasma or serum is removed and RBCs are kept in a minimal amout of fluid only. They blood group B+ have B antigens on RBC, Rh+ antigens and A antibodies in plasma. Thus to prevent blood transfusion reaction one must introduce only A antibodies compatible antigen. Thus blood group B+, B-, O+ and O- can be given to a blood recipient having blood group B+. A and AB groups cannot be introduced because they are incompatible and will be attacked by the immune systen to kill the RBCs.