Investigation of the distribution of abo and kell blood groups and rh subgroups of patients and donors applied to Dokuz Eylul University Medical Faculty Hospital

Objective: Blood safety is a core objective in transfusion medicine, this can be enhanced by avoiding alloimmunization with clinically important antibodies. Accurate knowledge on the distribution of blood groups in a region is useful for individuals needs and blood bank processes as well as such knowledge would provide scientific contribution. In the literature, there is no study examining the distribution of ABO, Rh and Kell blood groups in İzmir. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of AB and Kell blood groups and Rh subgroups of patients and donors who applied to Dokuz Eylul University Hospital which reflects Izmir to a great extent. Subjects and methods: Between 2008 and 2017, a retrospective analysis of 157038 patients and 232364 donors with blood agglutination method was performed in Dokuz Eylül University Hospital blood center. Results: The female male ratio was 1.2 / 1 in the patients and the F / M ratio in the donors was 0.08 / 1. 30% of the patients were older than 65 years, 26% were 45-65 age group, 25.7% were 25-44 age group and 18.2% were 18-24 age group. 63.1% of the donors were 25-44 age group, 33.5% were 45-65 age group, 3.4% were 18-24 age group. When we look at the places of birth of the patients and donors, Izmir was found most frequently. Of the patients, 88.7% were Rh positive, 11.3% Rh negative while 87.9% of the donors were Rh positive and 12.1% Rh negative. The blood group frequencies in Rh positive and Rh negative patients and donors were A>O>B>AB. 99.9% of cases and donors included in A blood group had A1 and A2 phenotypes. 99.9% of B blood group patients and 100% of donors showed B phenotype. The most frequent (99.9%) A1B and A2B phenotype were detected in patients and donors in the blood group AB. When the subgroups of Rh are seen, the most frequent ones were 30% CDcee in the patients and 33.4% ce in the donors. Kell blood group was 6.8% in patients and 5% in donors. Conclusion: The distribution of ABO and Rh blood group data is close to Turkey, the most common is A blood group and the least common is B and AB blood group. The donor group is mostly male and 25-44 age group. Support and information programs for women and 18-24 age group to be donors will be appropriate to increase the number of donors. This study provides the first step to create a donor data bank and to prepare red cell panels to provide compatible blood to multi-transfused patients. Our results will contribute to the data base about the distribution of blood group. Key Words: Blood groups, donor, ABO, Rh, Kell