ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Antibodies with haemolytic properties are common within the ABO system. These lytic antibodies are immunoglobulin G (IgG) and in high titres cause haemolysis during blood transfusion. Information on Immunoglobulin types and concentration of ABO haemolysins in Indian population is lacking. The present study was undertaken to know the usefulness of haemolysin test for characterization of immunoglobulin class of ABO antibodies. METHODS: Serum samples from 187 O group blood donors were screened for A and B haemolysins. Thirty five samples were treated with dithiothretiol (DTT) for characterization of Ig class. Antibody titre was compared with grade of haemolysis. RESULTS: Of the 51 strongly haemolytic serum samples, 32 (62.8%) had IgG titres of > or = 64 after treatment with DTT. There was significant association (P<0.05) between grade of haemolysin and anti B IgG titre. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Haemolysin test was found to be a useful screening test to identify group O donors with high levels of IgG anti A and/or anti B for blood transfusion purposes.
Subject(s)
ABO Blood-Group System , Hemolysin Proteins/chemistry , Hemolysis , Humans , Immunoglobulin G/chemistry , Immunoglobulin M/chemistry , India , Pilot ProjectsABSTRACT
Auto antiA1 and anti H was found in the serum of a patient admitted in this hospital for intracardiac repair of Ventricular Septal defect (VSD). Blood was grouped as A1 positive with discrepant cell and serum grouping due to auto anti A1 and anti H. No blood units were compatible for the patient. 17 A1, 3 A2 and 8 O group blood units were crossmatched and found incompatible at 37 degrees C and A2 and O at 25 degrees C--as the patient required surgery at hypothermia. Surgery was postponed. Antibody status was reviewed after 4 months. The thermal amplitude of auto anti H had changed by then but there was no change in auto anti A1. Surgery was done using A2 group blood.
Subject(s)
ABO Blood-Group System/immunology , Adolescent , Autoantibodies/blood , Blood Grouping and Crossmatching , Female , Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular/immunology , Humans , TemperatureABSTRACT
Blood transfusion is an important mode of transmission of infections to the recipient. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of transfusion transmissible infections and the possible risk factors among blood donors. During the study period (1994-99) donor samples were screened for HBsAg, HIV, HCV and Syphilis. The relevant donor history was examined to identify the risk factors leading to transfusion transmissible infections. The prevalence of infection was 3.1% among donors, with HBsAg constituting 1.3%, HCV 1.4%, HIV 0.2% and RPR 0.2%. In a classification based on occupation, class III donors (drivers, Businessmen & men in uniform) showed a significantly higher incidence of transfusion transmissible infections for HIV (0.38%) and Syphilis (0.36%). Health care workers constituted only a small fraction of the study; prevalence of infections was low among them. History of jaundice or hospitalization was not associated with higher incidence of seropositivity. Seropositivity for HIV is relatively low compared to similar studies conducted in other regions of the country. This finding is attributed to the pre donation counseling in donor selection. An important outcome of the study is that Class III donors form a high-risk group for transfusion transmissible infections.