Prevalence of High Titre Anti-A and Anti-B Haemolysins Amongst Blood Group “O” Voluntary Donors at Mbale Regional Blood Bank, Eastern Uganda

Patrick Wabuyi,1 Enoch Muwanguzi,2 Benson Okongo,2 Ahmed Bumba,1 Robert Wagubi,3 Grace Otekat,4 Yona Mbalibulha2 1Laboratory Department, Mbale Regional Blood Bank, Mbale, Uganda; 2Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda; 3Laboratory Department, Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, Mbarara, Uganda; 4Laboratory Section, Nakasero National Blood bank, Kampala, UgandaCorrespondence: Yona Mbalibulha, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda, Tel +256 773018980, Email [email protected]: Blood Group O donors with high antibody IgG anti-A and anti-B titers of 1:256 or higher was considered high antibody titer and generally referred to as dangerous donors because their plasma has the potential to haemolyse or agglutinate red blood cells in non-Group O recipients. Titration for the IgG anti-A and anti-B prior to transfusion is required to prevent transfusion reactions. There is a monthly blood collection of 5000 blood units per-month with ABO RhD distribution of A 27%, B 20%, O 48%, AB 5%, and Rh(D) negative 2%. This study aimed at determining the prevalence of high-titer immune anti-A and anti-B in blood group O donors at Mbale regional blood bank.Methods: A total of 382 blood group “O” donors were randomly selected and recruited after obtaining informed consent during the period of May 2022–January 2023. The titration for the anti-A and anti-B hemagglutinins (IgG class) titers was done by use of the tube titration technique. Data were summarized as means, standard deviations, percentages, and frequencies then presented in the form of pie charts and tables.Results: Of the recruited participants, 270(70.7%) were males. Total number of group O donors with high-titer were 27(7.1%) of which 15(55.5%) were male. The most frequent occurring antibody was Anti-B with 17/27 (62.9%). In male with high titer, anti-B was the most occurring and significantly raised, while anti-A was the most raised in female.Conclusion: There is a high proportion of blood group O donors having high titers of anti-A and anti-B (dangerous group O donors), with the most raised antibody being anti-A, which compromises the quality and safety of the blood products. We recommend screening for high-titer anti-A and anti-B antibodies in all blood group O donated units to make them safe for transfusion to non-group O recipients, especially where large volumes of plasma are required.Keywords: blood group O, anti-A and anti-B haemolysins, titers, donors