Comparison of IgM and IgG Anti-A and Anti-B Levels in Asian, Caucasian and Negro Donors in the North West Thames Region

Abstract

This study was undertaken to test the widely held belief that higher levels of immune anti-A and anti-B are characteristic of Negro and Asian populations with a corresponding increased risk factor for ABO haemolytic disease of the newborn. Overall, 300 serum samples from male and female Asian, Caucasian and Negro blood donors in the North West Thames Region of groups A, B and 0 were collected. The sera were titrated in microplates against pooled group A(1) and pooled group B red blood cells. Although the results show that the highest levels for IgG anti-A and anti-B were found in group 0 female Negro donors, statistically these levels are not significantly higher than those of the other group 0 donors tested. We suggest that the potent anti-A and anti-B reported by others in Negro and Asian populations may arise from environmental rather than genetic factors.