Prevalence of irregular red cell antibody in transfusion recipients vis-a-vis healthy blood donors attending a tertiary care hospital in North India.

CONTEXT

Alloimmunization by foreign red cell antigens is a matter of concern as it may lead to hemolysis in transfused patients as well as fetus of pregnant females.

AIMS

This study aimed to perform a comparative analysis of prevalence and type of irregular antibodies in healthy donors, vis-a-vis blood transfusion recipients.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

Blood samples of 4000 individuals comprising healthy donors, exposed patients, and nonexposed patients were collected and were analyzed for irregular antibodies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Commercially available three-cell antigen panel was used for the antibody screening. The samples positive in antibody screen were further subjected to an extended 11-cell panel for antibody identification in low-ionic strength saline with and without enzyme.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Statistical analysis was done using SPSS for Windows 15.0 program. Chi-square test was used for detecting statistical significance of exposure to red blood cell antigens in the formation of alloantibodies.

RESULTS

Of the 4000 samples, antibodies were identified in 105 (2.6%) samples. Overall, nonexposed group showed a seropositivity of 0.36%, while the exposed group showed a seropositivity of 9.4%. Anti-D was the most common antibody found in 38 patients (33.3%). Anti-E was the most common antibody in males, while anti-D was the most common antibody in females.

CONCLUSIONS

Since the risk of alloimmunization is more common in multitransfused patients, it is advisable to screen at least those cases for irregular antibodies.