RARE BLOOD GROUP: BOMBAY PHENOTYPE

Abstract

Occurrence of Bombay blood group is not uncommon in various parts of Rajasthan. If serum grouping is not performed and coombs cross matching not done, it is misdiagnosed as blood group O and hospitals might end up transfusing incompatible blood units to such patients (with O group blood). This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Bombay blood group amongst the cross match discrepant O blood group patients. Out of the total 7649 cross matches performed during one year, we had 63 such discrepant cases for which we had to perform detailed immunohaematology work up to obtain compatible blood unit for the given patients' samples. Routine and advanced immunohaematology work was done to determine the blood group and to nd the compatible blood unit for transfusion. One sample was found to be having Bombay blood group which belonged to a 19 year old primigravida Muslim female who had presented 38 weeks Amenorrhea and abdominal pain. Reverse blood grouping with O cells and coombs cross match must be adopted by all blood banks. Also, a rare blood type donor le must be maintained in all blood banks.