title: Prevalence of anti-A and anti-B hemolysis among blood group O donors in Lagos.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Group O donor blood is more readily available and is frequently used as universal red cell donor in our environment. The presence of hemolysins in the donors may however lead to hemolysis in the recipients. Attempts have been made to study the prevalence of hemolysins in various populations with results from our environment showing wide variation (20-80%).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence and titer of anti-A and anti B hemolysins among blood donors at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital and compare results with that obtained elsewhere. Determine if the practice of transfusion of group O blood to nongroup O recipients is permissible in this environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Test for hemolysis was done using the standard tube method. Samples positive for hemolysis were then scored and titrated with the titers read visually and photometrically at 540 nm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three hundred and fifty blood group O donors with age range 18-58 years and median age of 28 ΁ 8.4 years were enrolled in the study. The overall prevalence of anti-A and/or anti-B hemolysins obtained was 30.3%. Prevalence of anti-A and anti-B hemolysins only was 15.4% and 5.1% respectively whereas both anti-A and anti-B hemolysins were present in 9.7% donor samples. Though anti-A hemolysins were more prevalent than anti-B hemolysins, anti-B hemolysins had higher mean visual (6:7) and spectrophotometric titers (81:101). A visual titer of 8 and above which is considered significant was seen in 18.6% of donor samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anti-A and anti-B hemolysins exist in significant frequencies and titers among blood group O donors in Lagos. It is recommended that the use of group O donor blood for recipients who are non-O be discouraged. Clinical studies to determine the frequency and severity of hemolysis in non-group O recipients of blood group O are required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Nigeria.
authors.forename: O A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Oyedeji
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Adeyemo
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Ogbenna
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Akanmu
mesh_terms: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001787:Blood Group Incompatibility; D005260:Female; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000097:blood; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins