Racial difference between white and black Zimbabweans in the haemolytic activity of A, B, O antibodies.

Race is thought to be one of the factors determining the level of ABO antibodies. The objective of this study was to compare the haemolytic activity of anti-A and anti-B in two racial groups, Black and White Zimbabweans, living under similar conditions. Serum haemolytic activity was assessed by comparing spectrophotometrically, released haemoglobin when known A1 and B red cells were incubated in equal volumes of subjects' serum and water. Serum from Black subjects showed greater haemolytic activity of anti-A and anti-B than serum from White subjects. Within each racial group, anti-B showed greater haemolytic activity than anti-A. Race may be an important factor in the haemolytic activity of ABO antibodies.