DISTRIBUTION OF ABO BLOOD GROUP AND RH(D) FACTOR IN WESTERN RAJASTHAN

India is a vast country with lot of diversity in race, religion & creed. The same diversity has been observed in geographical distribution of blood groups in population within country. The ABO & Rhesus (Rh) blood group system are the most prevalent & important for transfusion of blood & its component, organ transplant, genetic studies & in legal medicine study. This study presents data about the prevalence of ABO & Rhesus (Rh) blood groups amongst blood donors during a period of ten & half year (retrospective study from January 2002 to July 2012) conducted at Blood Bank of Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, Jodhpur associated with Dr. S. N. Medical College, Jodhpur (India). During the study period blood groups of 83631 donors were screened by antigen antibody agglutination method using commercially available antiseras which were validated at our Blood Bank. The study revealed that the commonest ABO blood group was B, followed by O, A and AB respectively. Rh negative were 8.25%. [Natl J of Med Res 2013; 3(1.000): 73-75]