Background

The lack of correct blood grouping practices can lead to missing of the rare Bombay Oh phenotype and subjecting patients to the risk of severe hemolytic transfusion reaction. In the absence of blood donor registry, transfusion management of patients is a challenge. We performed this study in order to estimate the prevalence of the Bombay blood group (Oh) in Iran and to determine whether consanguinity plays a role in the prevalence of Oh group.

Methods

This is a descriptive study in the Immunohematology Reference Laboratory of the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization (IBTO) Tehran, Iran, over a period of 7 years. All donor blood samples showing blood group O and a strong initial reaction with blood group O RBC control cells were tested with anti-H lectin. Also blood samples from blood group O patients were tested with anti-H lectin if all cells on both antibody screening tests and antibody identification panels were reactive with negative auto control test. Specialized tests like adsorption/elution technique and inhibition assay for determination of secretor status were performed on Oh cases

Results

Analysis of the results of over 7 million first-time blood donors in Iran showed that the most common ABO blood group was O, with 2,520,000 (36%) subjects. 56 Oh individuals' (donors and patients) phenotypes (0.0008%) were detected. Consanguinity was observed in 50 cases (89%).

Conclusion

This study shows that the prevalence of Bombay blood group in the general population of Iran is relatively high (0.0008%) and associated with consanguineous marriage. Thus, consanguinity is still an important risk factor present.

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