Background: Allogenic blood has never been more in demand than it is today particularly in developing
countries. One of the biggest challenges to blood safety particularly in developing countries is accessing safe
and adequate quantities of blood and blood products. One strategy geared towards the optimum utilization of
scare donor units is use of blood and blood products against ABO blood group barrier. The aim of this study
was to determine the prevalence of alpha- and beta-haemolysins among blood group A, B and O donors in
Sokoto, North Western, Nigeria.
Methods. This prospective case study was carried out at the Service Laboratory of the Faculty of Medical
Laboratory Science in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, North-Western Nigeria. Sera from 140 blood
donors were screened for alpha- (anti-A) and beta- (anti-B) haemolysins using the standard tube technique at
37 C for 1 hour. Titre of = 1:64 was regarded as positive for high titre haemolysin.
Results: One hundred and forty blood male donors aged 18-50 years and mean age 30 ± 8.4 years were
screened for alpha- (anti-A) and beta- (anti-B) haemolysins. Study population included 60 blood group O
donors (42.9%), 40 blood group- A (26.7%) and 40 blood group B (26.7%) donors. Out of the 140 blood donors
screened, 14 (10.0%) were positive for high titre haemolysin (titre = 64) while 126 (90%) were negative (titre <
64). The prevalence of haemolysin was compared based on blood group of donors. The prevalence of high titre
haemolysin was significantly higher among blood group O donors (18.3%) compared to 5% and 2.5%
respectively for group B and group A donors respectively (p=0.001). Out of the 14 donor positive for
haemolysin, 7 (50%) were positive for Alpha haemolysin, 4 (28.5%) for beta while 3(21.4%) had both alpha
and beta haemolysin. There was no age- dependent differences in the prevalence of high titer haemolysins
among the blood donor tested.
Conclusion. This study has shown that the prevalence of high titre alpha and beta haemolysin is high
particularly among blood group O donors in Sokoto, Nigeria. We recommend that all group O, A and B blood
donors whose blood is intended for transfusion against ABO blood group barrier be screened routinely for high
titre alpha and beta haemolysins and that all blood group O red cell units intended for use as universal donor
units must be screened and found negative for high titre alpha and beta haemolysins. Also all Fresh Frozen
Plasma (FFP) and platelet concentrate intended for use against ABO blood group barrier should be tested and
found negative for high titre anti-A and B haemolysin.