ABO blood group detection in extracted teeth: A forensic study

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to ascertain ABO blood group from extracted teeth using pulp and dentin tissues with the help of the absorption–elution (AE) technique. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted using an experimental study design and included 60 patients who underwent extraction due to periodontal and therapeutic purposes. Blood group antigens were ascertained for all the study participants using capillary blood by slide agglutination method (Controls). AE technique was used to check blood grouping using powdered dentine and dental pulp immediately after extraction and after 9 months. The study group was compared with the control group for blood group determination at different time intervals to find the sensitivity of dental pulp and a significant difference between those values at different time intervals. The statistical tests used were the Shapiro–Wilk test, chi-squared test, multivariate linear regression, and the Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: A total of 60 study subjects, 39 males and 21 females, were taken. In the estimation of blood group, 54 teeth, that is, 90% of total sample, were positive. We found an inverse relationship between the result for the blood grouping and time intervals, that is, 100% and 80% test results, done on the day of extraction and after 9 months. Conclusion: It could be inferred that the antigens from pulp are biologically stable for long time. This study brings a spotlight on the time duration for which teeth can remain as the prominent source for the detection of blood group.