ABO Blood Grouping and Rhesus Factor Determination From Dental Pulp Tissue: A Forensic Research

Abstract

Introduction Collection of blood samples from mass disaster victims and blood grouping is a challenging task. This can be attributed to various reasons. From the forensic odontology perspective, teeth and bones are one of the noteworthy remains that can be derived from such sites. Aims and objectives The aim of our study is to detect ABO blood groups and Rhesus (Rh) factor from extirpated pulp tissue of the extracted teeth at zero, three, and six months’ time interval by absorption-elution technique. Materials and methods The study consisted of 90 freshly extracted teeth as suggested by a biostatistician. Thirty teeth were analyzed immediately and 60 teeth were stored in vials without any preservative at room temperature. The pulp tissue was extirpated and studied at zero months, three months, and six months to determine blood groups and Rh factors. The extraction socket blood was tested to identify the blood group of that patient and used as a control reference. The blood grouping was done at respective time periods through the absorption-elution method and matched with the control. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24 software (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). The chi-square test and Kruskal-Wallis test were done. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Pulp showed the highest sensitivity for blood groups at zero months but it could be identified up to six months, although the sensitivity and specificity gradually decreased. ABO blood grouping showed higher sensitivity than the Rh factor as time progressed. Conclusion In cases where teeth are the only remains in a forensic condition, the dental pulp can be an authentic source for blood group detection.

Detection of ABO Blood Groups From Dentin and Pulp by Using the Absorption-Elution Technique: A Forensic Cross-Sectional Study Among the Population of the Al Jouf Province, Saudi Arabia

“…Blood group antigens are always present in tooth pulp because of their extensive vascularity. Therefore, it is not too difficult to determine a person's blood type from pulp [20]. Our findings validated this, as the identification of ABO blood types and Rhesus factor antigen from pulpal tissue had an overall accuracy ranging from 42 (93.33%) to 44 (97.78%), whereas dentin samples exhibited an accuracy rate ranging from 35 (77.28%) to 37 (82.22%).…”

“…In several similar studies by Ramnarayan et al [20], Shetty and Premalatha [16], and Smeets et al [22] at various periods, pulp was shown to be better than dentin, and the sensitivity of the dentin and pulp decreased with the increase in periods. The most prominent current idea posits that infusion sedimentation phenomena, in conjunction with an intrinsically existent antigen, is the source of blood-type antigens in tooth-hard tissue.…”

“…The stability of teeth has long been recognized, since they may be physically and chemically preserved for an extended duration. Identification of even severely decayed or putrefied remains is greatly assisted by the presence of blood type components in both hard and soft tissues, as well as other genetic markers like enzymes [20]. In light of this, the current study set out to examine the presence of ABO blood group and Rhesus factor antigen in the dentin and pulp of teeth that had been extracted using the AE technique.…”

“…The study by Ramnarayan et al found that pulp and hard tissue from male teeth had a higher rate of positive results than female teeth. This was attributed to differences in the size of the teeth between the sexes and the availability of pulp for blood group identification [20].…”

Correlation of Age, Gender, ABO Blood Group and Rh Factor in COVID-19 Infection: A Cross-Sectional Study in Udaipur, Rajasthan, India

“…Antigens belonging to the ABO blood group are found on red blood cells, epithelial cells in the digestive and respiratory tracts, and endothelial cells beneath blood arteries, which are capable of producing ABH carbohydrate structures [25]. ABO blood grouping studies have been identified in the dental pulp tissue and secretor status was also noted in salivary samples [26,27]. The S protein of virions produced by individuals of type A may be adorned with A carbohydrate epitopes, while those produced by type B individuals could display B carbohydrate epitopes.…”