Research Article Open Access Chandra and Gupta, J Blood Disorders Transf 2012, 3:5 DOI: 10.4172/2155-9864.1000132 Research Article Open Access Volume 3 • Issue 5 • 1000132 J Blood Disorders Transf ISSN: 2155-9864 JBDT, an open access journal Prevalence of ABO and Rhesus Blood Groups in Northern India Tulika Chandra 1 * and Ashish Gupta 1,2 1 Department of Transfusion Medicine, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India 2 Department of Pathology, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India Abstract Background: The ABO blood group system was the frst human blood group system to be discovered by Landsteiner in 1900. The second type of blood group is the rhesus system. There are only two Rh phenotype such as Rh positive and Rh negative, depending on whether Rh antigen is present on the red cell or not. The frequency of ABO and Rh phenotypes in different populations has been extensively studied. The present study was done to assess the prevalence of blood groups in different categories of Northern India and to compare our results with other studies conducted in India and else where in the world and its multipurpose future utilities for the health planners. Methods: A retrospective study was carried out on 23,320 blood donors during a period of one year from 1 st January to 31 st December 2011. The Blood samples were obtained by standard procedures of venupuncture and subjected to determination of ABO and Rhesus blood group using antisera by combined slide and test tube method. Each sample of donors was tested for ABO and Rhesus status. Results: The blood group B (34.84%) was the commonest group prevalent in donors followed by group O (29.75%), A (21.50%) and AB (13.91%). AB negative was not seen in female donors. Conclusion: The commonest ABO blood group was group B in Northern India with Rh negativity at only 4.55%. *Corresponding author: Tulika Chandra, Department of Transfusion Medicine, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India, Tel: +91- 9415755536; E-mail: tulikachandra@rediffmail.com Received October 03, 2012; Accepted October 23, 2012; Published October 25, 2012 Citation: Chandra T, Gupta A (2012) Prevalence of ABO and Rhesus Blood Groups in Northern India. J Blood Disorders Transf 3:132. doi:10.4172/2155- 9864.1000132 Copyright: © 2012 Chandra T, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Keywords: Blood donor; Commonest group; Distribution; Country; India Introduction Te ABO blood group system was the frst human blood group system to be discovered by Landsteiner in 1900. Te ABO blood group system is the only system in which antibodies are consistently and predictably present in the serum of normal individuals whose red cells lack the antigens [1]. Apart from diferences amongst species, diferences between the individuals of the same species have also been demonstrated. During the World wars, it was discovered for the frst time that the frequency of ABO and Rhesus blood groups was diferent in persons native to diferent parts of the world. Attempts have been made to classify the racial groups of mankind according to the incidence of known blood groups [2]. Te second type of blood group is the rhesus system. Tere are only two Rh phenotype such as Rh positive and Rh negative, depending on whether Rh antigen is present on the red cell or not. Determination of ABO blood groups is done by detecting A and B antigens. In addition, known red cells are used to detect anti-A and anti-B in the serum, by a process called ‘reverse’ grouping. ABO and Rh gene phenotypes vary widely across races and geographical boundaries [3-5] despite the fact that the antigens involved are stable throughout life. Te resultant polymorphism remains important in population genetic studies, estimating the availability of compatible blood, evaluating the probability of hemolytic disease in the new born, resolving disputes in paternity/maternity and for forensic purposes [6,7]. Te frequency of ABO and Rh phenotypes in diferent populations has been extensively studied. Diferent blood groups have been shown to be particularly associated with diferent diseases as well [8,9]. Rh system emerged as second most important blood group system due to hemolytic disease of newborn and its importance in RhD negative individuals in subsequent transfusions once they develop Rh antibodies [1]. Te D antigen, afer A and B, is the most important red cell antigen in transfusion practice. Unlike the situation with A and B, persons whose red cell lacks the D antigen do not regularly have anti D in their serum. Blood bank usually has a problem of ever-changing stock position and it being very difcult to predict the prevalence of a particular blood group at a particular time. Te present study was done to assess the prevalence of blood groups in diferent categories of Northern India and to compare our results with other studies conducted in India and elsewhere in the world and its multipurpose future utilities for the health planners. Material and Methods A retrospective study was carried out on 23,320 blood donors (male and female) during a period of one year from 1 st January to 31 st December 2011 in the State Blood Bank, Department of Transfusion Medicine, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, India. Te blood donors were selected afer taking a detailed history and a complete examination regarding their eligibility criteria for blood donation. Donor’s name, age, sex, occupation, caste, complete postal address and contact number was taken. Donors were deferred or accepted according to their medical history regarding chronic or acute diseases. Findings were further confrmed by physical examination of the patient. Blood was taken from a donor only afer fulflling all the eligibility criteria of a healthy donor. Blood was taken for donors who were between 18-60 years of age, more than 50 kg weight with hemoglobin more than 12.5 g%. Te donors have no history of any Journal of Blood Disorders & Transfusion J o u r n a l o f B l o o d D i s o r d e r s & T r a n s f u s i o n ISSN: 2155-9864