Prevalence and Titre of Alpha and Beta Haemolysin Antibodies among Transfused Adults in Nigeria

ABSTRACT Haemolysin antibodies are important in blood group serology because of their involvement in blood transfusion reaction and haemolytic disease of the new born. This study was conducted to find out the prevalence of alpha (á) and beta (â) haemolysin antibodies and their titres among transfused adults in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. ABO cell and serum grouping and haemolysin detection were done using standard techniques. A total of 258 adults between the ages of 15 – 55 years were tested. One hundred and thirty one (131) adults (63 males and 68 females) who had received blood transfusion served as test subjects while 127 adults (68 males and 59 females) who had never received blood and its product before served as control. The percentage of A, B and O blood group recorded were groups A (25.3%), B (17.6%), AB (3.1%), O (57.4%). The prevalence of haemolysin antibodies were significantly (P