What's so special about AB+ blood type? I was donating blood my first time and the lady wanted me to do something called an "Alex Machine". What's an Alex Machine?
1 Answer
What's special is that AB+ is a relatively rare blood type.
Explanation:
Blood type AB+
Only about 1 in 29 individuals has AB+ blood.
They are universal red cell recipients but universal plasma donors.
Your blood collection agency must have been desperate for red blood cells, because an AB+ donor can give only to an AB+ recipient.
Usually they want the plasma because it can be given to all recipients.
The ALYX machine
The ALYX machine (named after its inventor's daughter) is an automated red cell collection system that collects double the amount of red blood cells compared to a regular blood donation.
(From thedeclarationatcoloniahigh.com)
The machine is essentially a disguised centrifuge.
The donor's blood enters the centrifuge (1), where it is separated into plasma (2), leukocytes (3), and erythrocytes (4).
The red blood cells are selected by moving the level of the aspiration device (5).
The cells are collected in a blood bag, and the plasma and leukocytes are returned to the donor, along with a small amount of sterile saline fluid to replace the blood volume lost.
