International Blood Research & Reviews

ABO, Rhesus Blood Groups and Haemoglobin Genotype Pattern of the Undergraduate Students in Ekpoma, Nigeria

Babatope, I.O. — 2025-09-20

Introduction: Blood groups are types of inherited antigenic substances on the surface of red blood cells, other cell types, and body secretions that are coded by alleles at difference loci on a chromosome

Aims: Knowledge of the distribution pattern of haemoglobin variants, ABO and Rhesus (Rh) blood group systems is of great importance in both clinical and epidemiological settings. This study was conducted to determine the ABO and Rhesus Blood groups and Genotypes pattern of the undergraduate students of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria.

Methodology: A total of two thousand and four hundred apparently healthy students aged 17-34 years and of both sexes were recruited for this study. The ABO and Rhesus blood groups were determined manually using haemagglutination technique while the haemoglobin genotype was performed using the cellulose acetate alkaline haemoglobin electrophoresis technique.

Results: In this study, blood group 0 ranked highest (61.3%) followed by group A (21.2%) and group B (14.7%) while group AB was the least (2.9%). Rhesus positive subjects accounted for 94.5% and the remainder (5.5%) was Rhesus negative. The ABO and Rhesus blood groups presented in the order of 0+>A+>B+>0->AB+>A->B->AB- with the respective frequencies of 58%, 20%, 13.8%, 3.3%, 2.5%, 1.2%, 0.8% and 0.1%. With respect to haemoglobin genotype, the ranking order was Hb AA>HbAS>HbAC>HbSS with respective frequencies of 78.6%, 20%, 0.3% and 0.25%.

Conclusion: Statistically speaking, sex and age did not impact on the distribution of ABO and Rhesus blood group as well as haemoglobin genotypes in the study area. In conclusion, group O, Rhesus D positive and Hb AA are the most prevalent blood groups and haemoglobin genotype in the study area.

Holding Time Optimisation in Fresh Frozen Plasma: A Critical Factor Worth Investigating

Yousif, D. — 2025-09-06

The production and quality of Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP) are governed by harmonised standards set by the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines and HealthCare (EDQM). These standards emphasise maintaining protein activity and controlling residual leucocyte content to ensure product quality and patient safety. Although FFP was previously assumed to be acellular, recent studies have shown that residual leucocytes remain present. These cells can contribute to immunological reactions, transfusion-associated infections, and alloimmunisation in recipients. The holding time between whole blood collection and plasma processing is a pivotal factor. It determines the balance between leucocyte degradation and the preservation of labile plasma proteins, particularly coagulation factors such as FVIII, FV, Protein C, and Protein S. Short holding times may not sufficiently reduce leucocyte counts, thereby increasing the risk of immunological complications. In contrast, extended holding times can accelerate the decline of coagulation factors and reduce therapeutic efficacy. Additional variables such as temperature management, enzymatic activity from residual cells, and pH fluctuations also influence protein stability. These factors highlight the complex biochemical and cellular interactions that shape plasma quality. This review underscores the need for standardised, evidence-based holding times. Such standards should optimise both leucocyte inactivation and protein preservation while also accounting for operational constraints in blood establishments.

Future research should aim to quantify residual leucocyte activity, characterise subtle protein degradation, and link these findings with clinical outcomes. This will help refine FFP processing protocols and improve transfusion safety and effectiveness.