Blood type matching

Blood type matching involves ensuring the donor’s blood is compatible with the recipient’s immune system. Blood types are classified by the presence of specific proteins, called antigens, on red blood cells—most notably the ABO and Rh systems. If incompatible blood is transfused, the recipient’s immune system may recognize the donor’s blood as foreign and attack it, causing serious reactions. Therefore, matching blood types ensures that the antigens in the donor’s blood do not trigger an immune response in the recipient, making transfusions safe and effective.