List of rare blood group Oh Bombay phenotype donors in BGS Hospitals registry

One of the rarest blood groups in India Bombay phenotype `Oh’ has been entered in the registry of BGS Global Hospitals, Bangalore.

The Oh blood group is found only in 0.0004 per cent of the human population and is one of the rarest blood groups in India and globally.

One in every 17,600 people in India or one in every 25,000 people globally has Oh blood group.

Oh blood group is a result of genetic mutation and it can be common among family members.

People with Oh Bombay phenotype blood group can donate and receive blood only among those with the same blood group.

They need to be extra careful during blood transfusion to avoid haemolytic reaction which can lead to death.

Bombay phenotype Oh blood group could be easily mistaken for ‘O’ blood group and many times it is not identified if proper blood grouping or testing practices are not followed.

Normally, Oh group cannot be identified through routine grouping. It doesn’t show reaction to anti-A and anti-B antibodies. Only through reverse grouping it could be traced.

BGS Global Hospitals is currently maintaining a blood donor registry which accounts for a list of 100 rare blood group donors including the unusual Bombay Phenotype blood category.

The objective of the registry is to maintain a database of rare donors to check fatality with wrong blood groups.

The hospital has installed the Total Automated Component Extractor T-Ace 11 (Teremo) which helps to implement a 100 percent component therapy. All units of blood are leuko-reduced to prevent transfusion reactions in patients.

BGS Global Hospitals, currently, has the names of 180 people with Bombay Phenotype Blood Group in India.

BGS Global Hospitals is looking out for people with unusual blood groups to help patients during emergencies.

BGS Global Hospital’s Rare Blood Group Registry can be contacted on the emergency line : 24242424 or Ph.: +91 80 2625 5555.

What is blood grouping?

There are more than 20 genetically determined blood group systems known today, but the AB0 and Rh systems are the most important ones used for blood transfusions.

According to the AB0 blood group system there are four different kinds of blood groups: A, B, AB or 0.

People with blood group A will be having antigen A on the surface of the red blood cells and B antibodies in your blood plasma.

In he blood group B, B antigens will be on the surface of the red blood cells and A antibodies in blood plasma.

In the blood group AB, both A and B antigens will be found on the surface of the red blood cells and no A or B antibodies at all in blood plasma.

In the blood group 0, neither A or B antigens on the surface of the red blood cells but  have both A and B antibodies in the blood plasma.

Many people also have a so called Rh factor on the red blood cell’s surface. This is also an antigen and those who have it are called Rh+. Those who haven’t are called Rh-.

A person with Rh- blood does not have Rh antibodies naturally in the blood plasma (as one can have A or B antibodies, for instance).

But a person with Rh- blood can develop Rh antibodies in the blood plasma if he or she receives blood from a person with Rh+ blood, whose Rh antigens can trigger the production of Rh antibodies. A person with Rh+ blood can receive blood from a person with Rh- blood without any problems.

The differences in human blood are due to the presence or absence of certain protein molecules called antigens and antibodies.

The antigens are located on the surface of the red blood cells and the antibodies are in the blood plasma.

Not all blood groups are compatible with each other. Mixing incompatible blood groups leads to blood clumping or agglutination, which is dangerous for individuals.

For a blood transfusion to be successful, AB0 and Rh blood groups must be compatible between the donor blood and the patient blood.

If they are not, the red blood cells from the donated blood will clump or agglutinate.

The agglutinated red cells can clog blood vessels and stop the circulation of the blood to various parts of the body.

People with blood group 0 Rh – are called “universal donors” and people with blood group AB Rh+ are called “universal receivers.”

Rh+ blood can never be given to someone with Rh – blood, but the other way around works. For example, 0 Rh+ blood can not be given to someone with the blood type AB Rh -.