ABO and Rhesus Blood Group Distribution and Frequency among Blood Donors at El-Marj and Al-Bayda Cities in Northeastern of Libya

Background: The ABO and Rh blood group antigens are the most predominantly used blood group antigens in clinical services and are utilized to shun transfusion reactiveness and maternal mortalities. The present study aims to determine the frequency and distribution of ABO and Rh (D) in the two cities in northeastern Libya, EL-Marj and Al-Bayda and make a comparison between the two cities according to characteristics of blood groups in each one. Methods: A retrospective study was carried out at the blood banks of two cities in the northeastern of Libya EL-Marj and Al-Bayda by studying all records of the last years, and making comparisons between the two cities. it collected information about 24823 donors from records of blood banks in both cities. Result: the number of the donors that have been studied is 24823 donors. It shows the year 2021 has more frequency for donors 9358 (37.7%). The most frequent ABO blood groups were O, then A (36.4%) and (29.7%), respectively, whereas, the smallest frequent one was AB (8.9 %). As for the rhesus factor, the Rh-positive comprised (84.9%) and the Rh-negative (15.1%) of donors. Conclusions: The current study deduces that the most common blood group is O and the least common is AB among the blood donors at Al-Bayda and EL-Marj cities in Libya. Concerning the Rh blood group system, the Rh-positive donor's proportion was 84.9% and the Rh-negative was 15.1%.