[pepperdog]

Freeper Maria Bush's husband is in the hospital. He requires tranfusions. His blood type is O- (O negative). The hospital, which is in the Memphis area, says they can't locate any O negative blood and want to give him one pint of O+ (O positive). He is very hesitant to let them do this as he has always been told to never let anyone give him any type other than O negative. He is not in immediate danger of death, but does need blood, he has already received two pints but needs two more pints. His doctor and two Pathologists say it is okay to do this. One Pathologist says no, don't do it. Has anyone ever heard of this?

[fieldmarshaldj]

Can't offer any opinion, just want to offer prayers for Mrs. Bush's husband that he gets the blood that he needs.

[msnimje]

I am married to a big old hunk of a man with O negative blood. Can we get it to you from Atlanta in time?

[HairOfTheDog]

No offense intended, but I think for medical advice, I'd take the doctor's word over the prevailing opinion of FReepers.

[kingu]

Perhaps there's an O- freeper in the Memphis area who can lend an arm.

[Red Badger]

I cannot imagine in this day and age that this question even has docs at odds. I have no idea, but I'd definitely seek more professional advice, like soon!...........

[quantim]

IIRC, O+ is a universal donor and should be OK.

But I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

[WKB]

One of our own Baptist Ping.

[packrat35]

I'm in Memphis but I am A-.

[digger48]

http://www.webmd.com/hw/lab_tests/hw3681.asp

[digger48]

Type O-negative blood does not have any antigens. It is called the "universal donor" type because it is compatible with any blood type. Type AB-positive blood is called the "universal recipient" type because a person who has it can receive blood of any type. Although “universal donor” and “universal recipient” types are occasionally used to classify blood in an emergency, blood type tests are always done to prevent transfusion reactions.

[satchmodog9]

Transfusions:
If you have type A blood, you can receive blood transfusions from people with types A and O blood.
If you have type B blood, you can receive blood transfusions from people with types B and O blood.
If you have type AB blood, you can receive blood transfusions from people with types A, B, AB, and O blood.
If you have type O blood, you can receive blood transfusions from people with type O blood only.
If you have Rh-positive blood, you can receive transfusions from people with types Rh-positive and Rh-negative blood.
If you have Rh-negative blood, you can receive transfusions from people with type Rh-negative blood only.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003345.htm

[FLcitizen]

http://www.bloodbook.com/type-facts.html

[satchmodog9]

http://www.redcrossblood.org/facts.htm

Here is the link to the red cross. All the info you need is right here. It says it is OK to proceed.

[MikefromOhio]

O+ is the universal donor.

I'm O+

[MikefromOhio]

From what I've learned

Type O is the universal donor

Type AB is the universal receptor.

Something like that.

[MindBender26]

Unless he is a woman who plans to get pregnant, there is no problem with + going to -. - would be better, but + is fine.

[TheLion]

An interesting question. I found this little bit of info. There is much more on the link.

A patient should ideally receive their own blood or type-specific blood products to minimize the chance of a transfusion reaction. If time allows, the risk will further be reduced by cross-matching blood, in addition to blood typing both recipient and donor. Cross-matching involves mixing a sample of the recipient's blood with a sample of the donor's blood and checking to see if the mixture agglutinates, or forms clumps. Blood bank technicians usually check for agglutination with a microscope, and if it occurs, that particular donor's blood cannot be transfused to that particular recipient. Blood transfusion is a potentially risky medical procedure and it is vital that all blood specimens are correctly identified, so in cross-matching labeling is standardized using a barcode system known as ISBT 128.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_type

[greatvikingone]

While it is true that those with O- (i.e., Rh negative O blood type) ideally should receive O-, if there is a shortage of O-, women who can't bear children and men will be given O+. There is a small risk of transfusion reaction with the Rh factor, but even if it occurs it is generally a mild one, unlike the life-threatening reactions one might get with ABO incompatibility (i.e., type O receiving A,B, or AB; type B receiving A or AB; or type A receiving B or AB). The reason Rh negative women of childbearing potential are excluded from receiving Rh positive blood is to prevent Rh immune sensitization and difficulties with future pregnancies. Also, please understand that transfusion reactions can still occur even with "compatible" blood types, due to the wide variety of red blood cell antigens know to exist.

Dr. W.

[srmorton]

The O Positive blood will not hurt him in the least the first time he receives it. Humans do not have a naturally occurring antibody to the Rh D antigen on which the positive typing is based. It has to be stimulated by prior contact with the antigen. The only ways to have contact with the antigen is by becoming pregnant with an Rh positive baby (which, of course, your husband has not) or to be transfused with Rh positive blood. This has not happened before or the antibody screen on his serum would show the presence of the antibody and he would not be a candidate for such a transfusion.

I am a registered Medical Technologist and my advice would be to use this option only as a last resort. Even though this initial transfusion will not cause your husband any adverse effects, a transfusion like this can only be done once because afterwards he would make an antibody that would prevent him from being able to receive O Positive blood again. There is a drug (RhoGam) that prevents the formation of the antibody, but I do not know how well it works if an entire unit of O Positive blood has been transfused. If it is necessary to save his life or if he requires so much blood that it would be hard for the hospital to obtain that much O Negative (which is always in short supply), then I would recommend that he go ahead and receive the transfusion. If he needs only a unit or two and it is not an emergency situation, I would recommend that he wait until the hospital can obtain some O Negative blood.

Hope this helps!

Susan R. Morton, MT(ASCP), CLS(NCA), MA

[fullchroma]

I'm O positive and CMV negative which is better, they tell me, than regular O postive. I'm in Nashville and a pint is his if it helps.