JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES

Abstract

The aim of blood bank is safe transfusion of the blood from donor to recipient without harming both. Landsteiner discovered ABO blood group system in 1901 and Rh system in 1940. After this, blood transfusion became much safer. Determining blood grouping and cross-matching is an essential prerequisite for blood transfusion. Nearly 400 red cell antigens have so far been discovered. Among the available blood group systems, ABO blood group system was first to be identified and Rh blood group system was the fourth one. Both are important for safe blood transfusion. If proper blood grouping or testing practices are not followed, it can lead to people with Bombay blood group not being detected. This group would be categorized as the O group because it would not show any reaction to anti-A and anti-B antibodies, similar to the O group. When a cross matching with O group is done, then it would show cross-reactivity or incompatibility. Therefore reverse grouping or serum grouping has to be performed to detect this group. We present one such rare case which was diagnosed in our hospital.

Key Words:Bombay phenotype, Oh blood group, rare blood type, blood antigens