ABSTRACT
General measures for infection prevention and control should be followed by the health care workers as the world struggles to control Covid-19 spread. Medical professionals and researchers continue to fight with the recent global outbreak of Covid-19 and its potential impact on blood transfusion services is real and a cause of concern for transfusion medicine experts. The 2002 - 03 SARS outbreak saw 8098 reported cases resulting in 774 deaths, and a 9% mortality rate.(1) The mortality rates for the same spiked to 50% for individuals over the age of 60. It is accepted that the present Covid-19 outbreak originated in bats. As per the American Association of Blood banks (AABB).(2) There is no reported or suspected case of transfusion transmitted Covid-19.(3,4,5) Similarly, in India there is no reported case of transfusion transmission. Social distancing of blood donors is of paramount importance for blood donors while blood collection. Similarly, organizing of blood donation camps by organisers and blood bank staff should ensure the same. Facilities for hand washing for blood donors and use of mask should be ensured. Blood donation by blood donors with travel history should be deferred for 28 days.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The ABO and Rh blood group systems are themost important blood group systems in Transfusion Medicine.This study was carried out with an objective to study thedistribution of ABO and Rh blood groups among voluntaryblood donors in Central Gujarat, India which is essential foreffective management of blood inventory.Material and Methods: The present retrospective studywas carried out at our blood centre. The data of presentstudy is from 01/06/2009 TO 31/12/2019. Total 398803voluntary blood donors were considered medically fit andaccepted for blood donation. ABO and Rh typing was doneby Manual Microplate Technique (June 2009 to August 2015)and automated blood group Immucor Galileo neo machine(September 2015 to December 2019) both forward and reverseblood grouping after validation at blood bank.Result: Out of 398803 blood donors B blood group was mostcommon(143408-35.96%) and the least blood group was ABBlood group (33631 – 8.43%). There were more Rh Positiveblood donors (372660 – 93.45%) as compared to Rh Negativeblood donors (26143 – 6.55%).Conclusion: The most common blood group among voluntarydonors was B positive and least common blood group was ABnegative.