Mix-up in rare blood group can prove fatal

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Bengaluru: Those with the rare ‘Bombay blood group’ face two problems: the blood is difficult to get in case transfusions are required, and diagnostic laboratories tend to mistake Bombay blood group for O-positive blood group, leading those who have this rare blood type to believe that they have the common O-blood group.
The complications can thus be many, as Manjula (name changed), a resident of Tumkur, discovered. She went into labour and was due to deliver her baby at a government hospital in Tumkur. During her entire pregnancy she believed that her blood group was O-positive. She developed complications during labour, and as she was anaemic, the family was asked to get blood.
The family managed to get the required blood group as advised by the doctor after the local blood bank went through the usual medical procedure called cross-match (a match done between the patient's blood group and the unit that is supposed to be transfused). But no sooner was the blood transfusion started, than Manjula's condition got much worse. She delivered the baby, but she did not respond to treatment. She was immediately shifted to a private hospital in Bengaluru.
 It was then that the Rashtrothana Blood Bank correctly detected Manjula's blood group to be the Bombay blood group. With the help of Sankalp India Foundation, a voluntary youth organisation that generates awareness about voluntary blood donation, the correct blood was made available with much difficulty. Manjula's situation was quite critical, but after a few days she was well enough to be discharged from the hospital.
So why do blood banks and laboratory technicians get confused with Bombay blood group and O-positive blood group? "When doing the blood grouping two special tests are required for detecting the Bombay blood group. Normally, for blood grouping the technician takes three drops of blood on a slide and adds chemicals (Anti-A, Anti-B and Anti-D) to each of the drops to see if they coagulate. If the first and the second drops do not coagulate, then your blood group is declared as O. In this case, they should put a fourth drop and put Anti-H in it. If it coagulates, your blood group is O or else it is Bombay blood group. Secondly, one needs to undergo the cell serum group test," explains Dr Annapoorna Ramesh, consultant, Blood Bank and Department of Trans­fusion Medicine, BGS Global Hospital.
Generating awareness about Bombay blood group among the general public, blood banks and laboratory technicians is very essential.
Those requiring or willing to donate blood can log on to www. bombaybloodgroup.org.