A cross-sectional study on determination of ABO isoagglutination titres and factors influencing them among blood donor population of Southern Karnataka, India

ABO blood group system is one of the major blood groupsystems for human blood transfusion. Blood group O red blood cells (RBCs) arecalled universal red cell donor because the red cells possess no A or Bantigen, however, their serum contains anti-A and anti-B antibodies. the naturally occurring antibodies react at room temperature or lower and can be IgM class or a mixture of classes: IgM, IgG and IgA. Haemolysins are antibodies (anti-A or anti-B) capable of reacting at 37°C and causing haemolysis when plasma or platelets of O-group individuals are transfused to non-group O individuals. These group O individuals having high titres of haemolysins are called dangerous universal donors. ABO antibodies decrease by mid-life and can significantly decrease or maybe absent in adults of 65 years or above. However, the factors influencing the antibody levels are not fully known. We plan this study on ABO antibody titres among O group blood donors and the factors influencing them.