title: Haemoglobin variants among voluntary blood donors in Jos, Nigeria: the implications on blood transfusion.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The normal haemoglobin is an efficient transporter of oxygen to the tissues and carbondioxide from tissues to the lungs for elimination. Various abnormal haemoglobin variants including, the sickle cell diseases, have been described with varying sickling tendencies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine the haemoglobin variants among voluntary blood donors in Jos.
  
  
  METHODS
  Records of the age, sex, Haemoglobin level, and the haemoglobin genotype of all voluntary blood donors who donated blood at the National Blood Transfusion Service Centre, Jos, Nigeria between January 2011 and April 2012; and their haemoglobin levels and protein electrophoresis determined, were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 937 blood donors, 658 (70.23%) males and 279 (29.79%) females, mean age 32.4 years, donated blood voluntarily, their haemoglobin electrophoretic patterns determined by alkaline cellulose acetate electrophoresis. Donor blood haemoglobin levels were determined by automation. Haemoglobin protein electrophoretic patterns identified among our donors were 77.70% AA, 21.88% AS, 0.22% SC, 0.11% AC and 0.11% SS. Mean haemoglobin levels of the donors according to their haemoglobin proteins electrophoretic patterns were, 150.4 +/- 12.5 gms/l for AA, 151.9 +/- 13.8 gms/l for AS and 131.1 +/- 5.0 gms/l for haemoglobin SC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Determination of haemoglobin protein electrophoretic patterns of blood unit for transfusion could enhance selective blood issuing based on recipient's haemoglobin type.
authors: Dept of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Nigeria. ddamulak@yahoo.com
authors: O D
authors: OD
authors: Damulak
authors: S A
authors: SA
authors: Bolorunduro
authors: J O
authors: JO
authors: Egesie
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Yakubu
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Godit
authors: O A
authors: OA
authors: Smith
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People / Q000235:genetics*; D001782:Blood Donors; D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D001797:Blood Protein Electrophoresis; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System
chemical_list: D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D006454:Hemoglobins; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System