Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam 2025 – The All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

Question: 1 / 2700

Which blood type is known as the universal donor?

Type A

Type B

Type AB

Type O

Type O blood is known as the universal donor because it does not have A or B antigens on the surface of its red blood cells. As a result, when individuals with Type O blood donate to patients with other blood types, there is a significantly lower risk of an adverse immune reaction. This is because the presence of A and B antigens can trigger an immune response in recipients who have blood types with opposing antigens.

In contrast, Type A blood has A antigens, Type B has B antigens, and Type AB has both A and B antigens. If someone with Type A, B, or AB blood receives Type O blood, their immune system recognizes it as foreign and does not react against it because there are no A or B antigens present on the donated Type O cells. This unique characteristic makes Type O the safest option for blood transfusions across different blood types, hence earning it the title of the universal donor.

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