.
Bombay Blood Group
Bombay Blood Group
The discovery of Bombay Blood Group was made more than 50
years ago with a patient who was admitted to KEM Hospital and required
blood transfusions. A sample of blood was sent to the Blood Bank for
grouping as is the usual practice. The red cells grouped like O group
and hence O group blood was administered. The patient developed
haemolytic transfusion reaction, and therefore transfusion had to be
stopped.
A detailed study of the patients blood revealed a rare
genotype (blood group), which was neither ‘A’ nor ‘B’ nor ‘AB’ nor
‘O’. Since the first case was detected in Mumbai (then Bombay), the
blood group came to be called as Bombay Blood Group. Blood from a
Bombay Blood Group individual only should be transfused to a Bombay
Blood Group patient.
It is now known that the precursor protein from which
all blood groups are formed is termed as the ‘H’ Antigen. The ‘H’
Antigen either translates into ‘A’ Antigen (the blood group is then
called ‘A’) or it translates into ‘B’ Antigen (the blood group is then
called ‘B’) or it translates into both ‘A’ and ‘B’ Antigens (the blood
group is then called ‘AB’) or it remains as ‘H’ (the blood group is
called ‘O’). Earlier the detection of ‘O’ was on the basis of absence
of both ‘A’ and ‘B’. In the case of Bombay Blood Group, there was an
absence of the ‘H’ Antigen itself. Therefore ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘AB’ and ‘O’
which are all different manifestations of ‘H’ are all alien for persons
with Bombay Blood Group. The Bombay Blood Group is termed as ‘OH’,
which means absence of ‘H’.
Earlier, the Institute of Immuno Haematology (IIH) housed in the ICMR at K.E.M. Hospital, Mumbai, was the only referral laboratory for determining the Bombay Phenotype. Samples from all over the country were sent to the IIH, which was the only place, which maintained a directory of persons detected with the Bombay Blood Group. Here again, the presence or absence of Rhesus Antigen would determine whether the person is Bombay Rh Positive or Bombay Rh Negative. Today there are many laboratories and Blood Banks, which are able to detect and label Bombay Group.
Earlier, the Institute of Immuno Haematology (IIH) housed in the ICMR at K.E.M. Hospital, Mumbai, was the only referral laboratory for determining the Bombay Phenotype. Samples from all over the country were sent to the IIH, which was the only place, which maintained a directory of persons detected with the Bombay Blood Group. Here again, the presence or absence of Rhesus Antigen would determine whether the person is Bombay Rh Positive or Bombay Rh Negative. Today there are many laboratories and Blood Banks, which are able to detect and label Bombay Group.
If you are looking for Bombay Blood Group
If you are lookng for Bombay Blood Group, it is quite likely that the required units are not available in any Blood Bank. Click here for advice on the course of action to be taken.
. If you are lookng for Bombay Blood Group, it is quite likely that the required units are not available in any Blood Bank. Click here for advice on the course of action to be taken.