Retrospective analysis of ABO and Rh blood group systems distribution among blood donors at a tertiary care center in Maharashtra, India
Mohamed Haneef Raihana, Shweta Dhote, Shoroff Prabhu, Varsha Chandran, Satyendra Badhe, Shruti ValsanAbstract
Background:
Transfusion medicine services have become a crucial component of modern healthcare. The discovery of the ABO and Rhesus (Rh) blood group systems has significantly improved transfusion safety and compatibility, thereby enhancing blood center management and patient outcomes. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of ABO and Rh blood groups among voluntary blood donors at a tertiary care center.
Materials and Methods:
A retrospective observational study was conducted in the Department of Transfusion Medicine and Immunohematology at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Navi Mumbai over 3 years (January 2023 to December 2025). A total of 17,173 voluntary blood donors aged 18–65 years were included. ABO and Rh (D) blood grouping was performed using standard tube agglutination techniques, including both forward and reverse grouping. Rh-negative samples were further confirmed by the anti-human globulin method. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 23, and results were expressed as frequencies and percentages.
Results:
Of the 17,173 donors, 91.90% were male, and 8.09% were female. The majority of donors (51.09%) were aged 21–30 years. Blood group O was the most prevalent (33.07%), followed by B (30.82%), A (27.4%), and AB (8.65%). Regarding the Rh system, 95.46% of donors were Rh-positive, and 4.53% were Rh-negative.
Conclusion:
This study shows a predominance of blood group O and Rh-positive individuals among voluntary donors. These findings are valuable for optimizing blood center inventory, enhancing transfusion services, and informing targeted donor recruitment strategies, particularly for rare blood groups.