Utility of saliva to detect secretor status in para-Bombay blood group and Bombay blood group

Abstract

Abstract Bombay blood group, H-deficient nonsecretor phenotype and para-Bombay blood group, and H-deficient secretor phenotype are both rare blood groups. Secretor status refers to the presence or absence of water-soluble ABO blood group antigens in an individual’s body fluids, such as saliva, tears, breast milk, urine, and semen. Individuals who secrete these antigens in their body fluids are referred to as secretors, while people who do not, are termed nonsecretors. Bombay phenotype individuals are red cell H-deficient nonsecretors, whereas para-Bombay individuals are red cell H-deficient secretors. We present a comparative study of two individuals, a 27-year-old male patient having para-Bombay phenotype blood group and a 30-year-old female patient having Bombay phenotype blood group. In both of these patients, saliva was utilized to demonstrate the secretor status.