NEWS –  Karnataka government launches  rare blood donor programme

HIGHLIGHTS

• The programme aims to support patients with rare blood groups by creating a database of voluntary donors.
• Launched by Rotary Bangalore TTK Blood Centre’s Bangalore Medical Services Trust (BMST) in collaboration with Karnataka State Blood Transfusion Council.
• Inaugurated by Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on National Voluntary Blood Donation Day, October 1.

Key Features of the Programme

1. Rare Blood Donor Registry:
   • Database of voluntary donors with rare blood groups.
   • Repository of frozen red cell units of rare blood types.
2. Collaborations and Support:
   • Technical expertise from National Institute of Immunohematology (ICMR Mumbai), New York Blood Center (U.S.), and International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT, Amsterdam).
   • Training and awareness programs for blood centres in Karnataka.
3. Blood Group Testing:
   • Extended testing by serology and molecular techniques.
   • Identifying rare blood types among patients and their families.

Progress So Far

• Registry Development:
  • 500 individuals tested, 60 donors enrolled.
  • Data shared with the International Rare Donor Panel.
• Unique Contribution:
  • One of only two centres in India with a rare blood donor registry (ICMR Mumbai being the other).

Understanding Rare Blood Groups

1. Blood Group Systems:
   • 45 blood group systems identified; ABO and Rh (Rhesus factor) are the most common.
   • Other blood groups are rarer, found in less than 1 in 1,000 or 1 in 10,000 people.
2. Examples of Rare Blood Groups:
   • Bombay (Oh) phenotype, Rh-D-/-D-, In(a+b-), Co(a-b-), CdE/CdE, Mg.
   • Weaker variants of A, B, O, and Rh antigens.

Clinical Significance

• Rare blood types are crucial for patients with conditions like thalassemia, cancer, or those needing multiple transfusions.
• Precisely matched blood is needed for such patients to avoid adverse reactions during transfusions.