B+ Transfused to A+: Can It Be Deadly?
Every person’s blood group is determined by specific antigens and antibodies present in the blood.
A+ blood group: Has A antigens on red blood cells and anti-B antibodies in plasma.
B+ blood group: Has B antigens on red blood cells and anti-A antibodies in plasma.
These antigens and antibodies decide which blood types are compatible for transfusion.
If a person with A+ blood is mistakenly given B+ blood, a dangerous immune reaction occurs.
The anti-B antibodies in the A+ person’s blood recognize the B antigens on the transfused red blood cells as foreign.
The immune system attacks and destroys these red blood cells in a process called Acute Hemolytic Transfusion Reaction (AHTR).
This leads to hemolysis, or the bursting of red blood cells, which releases harmful substances into the bloodstream.
The reaction can begin within minutes of the transfusion.
Common symptoms include:
High fever and chills
Dark-colored urine (due to hemoglobin release)
Severe back or chest pain
Low blood pressure
Breathing difficulty
If untreated, this can cause acute kidney failure, shock, or even death.
However, with immediate medical attention, doctors can often manage the reaction using medications and fluids.
Before any transfusion, hospitals perform a cross-match test to ensure compatibility between donor and recipient blood.
Both blood samples are tested and verified multiple times to prevent mismatches.
Transfusions are only approved once the donor–recipient match is confirmed.
Giving B+ blood to an A+ person can cause a severe immune reaction.
Though it can be life-threatening, strict hospital procedures make such errors extremely rare.
A+ blood group: Has A antigens on red blood cells and anti-B antibodies in plasma.
B+ blood group: Has B antigens on red blood cells and anti-A antibodies in plasma.
These antigens and antibodies decide which blood types are compatible for transfusion.
⚠️ What Happens During a Wrong Blood Transfusion
If a person with A+ blood is mistakenly given B+ blood, a dangerous immune reaction occurs.
The anti-B antibodies in the A+ person’s blood recognize the B antigens on the transfused red blood cells as foreign.
The immune system attacks and destroys these red blood cells in a process called Acute Hemolytic Transfusion Reaction (AHTR).
This leads to hemolysis, or the bursting of red blood cells, which releases harmful substances into the bloodstream.
🚨 Possible Complications
The reaction can begin within minutes of the transfusion.
Common symptoms include:
High fever and chills
Dark-colored urine (due to hemoglobin release)
Severe back or chest pain
Low blood pressure
Breathing difficulty
If untreated, this can cause acute kidney failure, shock, or even death.
However, with immediate medical attention, doctors can often manage the reaction using medications and fluids.
🧪 How Hospitals Prevent This
Before any transfusion, hospitals perform a cross-match test to ensure compatibility between donor and recipient blood.
Both blood samples are tested and verified multiple times to prevent mismatches.
Transfusions are only approved once the donor–recipient match is confirmed.
✅ In Summary
Giving B+ blood to an A+ person can cause a severe immune reaction.
Though it can be life-threatening, strict hospital procedures make such errors extremely rare.