Phenotype, allele and genotype frequency distribution of ABO and Rh(D) blood group among blood donors attending regional blood transfusion centre in Delhi, India

Abstract

The ABO and Rh blood group phenotypes, alleles, and genotype frequencies have many biological and medical implications. The frequency differs broadly according to races, geographical borders and ethnicity, even within the same region. This study was designed to determine the frequency of ABO and Rh blood groups among blood donors attending the regional blood transfusion centre in Delhi. The gel card method was used to determine the ABO and Rh(D) blood groups of donors who donated blood between January 1, 2020, and June 30, 2022. The assumption of Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium was used to determine allele and genotype frequencies of blood donors. A total of 16,925 blood units were donated during the study period. Donors phenotype frequencies of ABO were as follows: ‘A’ (23.88%), ‘B’ (37.38%), ‘AB’ (9.97%) and ‘O ’(29.27%). Rh(D)+Ve (D) were (94.9%) and Rh(D)-Ve (d) were (5.01%), which follow an order of B > O > A > AB and Rh-D > d for Rh. Donors ABO and Rh (D) allele frequencies were IA-0.183, IB-0.277, IO-0.541 and ID-0.776, Id-0.224 respectively. Allele frequencies follow an order of IO > IB > IA and Rh- ID > Id. Donors ABO genotype frequencies were AA-0.0333, AO-0.198, BB-0.0768, BO-0.30, AB-0.101, OO-0.293 and Rh(D) genotype frequencies were DD-0.602, Dd-0.347, dd-0.0501. Genotype frequencies follow an order of BO > OO > AO > AB > BB > AA and DD > Dd > dd. Among our donors, which were mostly from northern India, the ABO and Rh(D) blood groups have the highest proportion of ABO-B and Rh(D)+Ve and the lowest proportion of ABO-AB and Rh(D)-Ve, with a stable order of B > O > A > AB and D > d for phenotype, IO > IB > IA and ID > Id for allele and BO > OO > AO > AB > BB > AA and DD > Dd > dd for genotype.