ABSTRACT
Background: The higher prevalence of blood group 0 places more demand on it when compared
to other blood groups in developing countries. Group 0 blood is usually abused in hospitals with
the erroneous belief that individuals with blood group 0 are universal donors. Haemolysins are
IgG antibodies seen particularly in blood group 0 subjects and their demonstration in vitro helps
detect dangerous blood group 0 donors whenever such blood is to be given to non-O individuals.
Objective: The aims of this study are to determine the prevalence and titre of anti-A and ant-B
haemolysins in blood group 0 donors and also in pregnant women to see the effect of repeated
pregnancy on the prevalence and titre ofhaemolysins.
Methods: 500 blood group 0 donors and blood group 0 pregnant women consisting of 300
primigravida and 300 multigravida were screened for haemolysins. Titration ofhaemolysins was
done on the serum of those who tested positive to haemolysin screening.
Results: In the donor population the prevalence ofhaemolysins was 45.2% and the titre ranged
from 2 to 32. 188(37.6%) of the donors have titre grater than 8. In the primigravida, the
prevalence was 48.3% and the range of titre is same as that of the donor population. The
prevalence for the multigravida was 53.3% and titre range was 2 to 64.
Conclusion. The prevalence ofhaemolysins is quite high in our environment and we recommend
that blood group 0 should, as much as possible, NOT be transfused to Non-O individuals except
Address for Correspondence:
Dr. Nwagu, M.U, Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Faculty of Clinical
Medicine, Delta State University,Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria, Email: unwagu@yahoo.com.
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THE NIGERIA JOURNAL OF GENERAL PRACTICE - VOL. 8 NO. 03, MARCH, 2009
as packed or washed red cells during emergency. Repeated pregnancy enhances the production of
haemolysins.