Frequency and distribution of ABO and Rh blood groups among blood donors in tertiary care hospital of South Gujarat, India

Background: Since it was discovered by Karl Landsteiner, the ABO blood group system is the most important blood group system in Transfusion Medicine. The blood group systems are also very important in population genetic studies, researching population migration patterns as well as resolving certain medico-legal issues, particularly disputed parentage. This study was carried out with an objective to provide data regarding gene frequency and distribution of ABO and Rh blood groups among blood donors in South Gujarat, India.Methods: Data of 40732 blood donors were retrospectively collected and analyzed regarding ABO and Rh blood groups from May-2011 to April-2016 and reported in simple numbers and percentage. Blood group of the blood donors was determined by forward and reverse methods with the help of commercially available standard monoclonal antisera by test tube and column agglutination techniques in required cases.Results: The most common blood group among donors was B (34.43%) followed by O (32.26%), A (24.35%), while the least prevalent blood group was AB (8.94%). Rh positivity among donors was (95.12%). Rests were Rh Negative (4.87%). The estimated gene frequencies were 0.1844 for IA (p), 0.2477 for IB (q) and 0.5679 for IO (r).Conclusions: The most common blood group in donors was B positive and least common was AB negative.