Is it possible to get a complete blood transfusion? If so, who’s DNA would be found at a crime scene (say you were robbing a bank and you cut yourself and left a few drops of blood) the donor’s or the recipients? I think it would be both if the transfusion was recent and just the recipient’s if it’s been awhile but any details, clarifications, and why’s would be appreciated. Thanks.
Neither; red blood cells do not contain DNA.
But blood is more than just red blood cells. There is DNA in blood, isn’t there?
Only in the leukocytes, which are not likely to be involved in a blood transfusion, as they are specific to the individual. Blood transfusions involve either red blood cells, plasma, or both. Neither red blood cells nor plasma contain DNA.
You’d have problems finding a single person willing to donate all their blood for such a whole blood transfusion. You could certainly confuse DNA tests if instead, you took a few pints from several different individuals. Even so, your DNA would still show up in the mix as you continually make new leukocytes.
Hmmm… I just realized I slightly mis-read the question. I was seeing it as either only the donor’s DNA would be present or the DNA of both.
The donor’s DNA should not be in present unless the transfusion was contaminated with the donor’s leukocytes. If that had occurred, however, the recipient would have had an obvious immune reaction soon after the transfusion.
Keep in mind mature leukocytes are constantly moving from bone marrow to circulation. Even if the entire blood volume was replaced (a difficult and uncomfortable procedure), quite quickly the transfusion recipient’s new blood would be filling with his own white blood cells and his own DNA
Staff Report: Does a blood donation mess up DNA evidence?
Actually, most units of packed red cells do contain some leukocytes, though not usually enough to cause problems. Rarely a person getting transfused will have a minor reaction. Even more rarely the leukocytes can become active and attack the recipient especially if their immune system is not functional. For this last reason transplant patients and other immunosuppressed individuals will only receive donated blood through a leukocyte removal filter or units that have been irradiated, thus inactivating the wbcs.
-a blood banker
I’ll speak as a recipient here about reactions. I find that I get a reaction for about every 10-12 units of blood that I receive.