Abstract

Introduction: Blood is a specialized connective tissue with complete and unchangeable identity with almost 400 blood grouping agglutinogens. Agglutinogens are antigenic determinants existing as membrane peripheral proteins on the outer surface of the erythrocytes. Agglutinins are plasma proteins of the Immunoglobin variety which exist in the plasma. Each type of the blood groups of ABO system has different characteristics. Importance of doing this study highlights the importance of blood group association with academic performance of the students. Methodology: A Cross sectional study was conducted on 400 medical students between the ages 17 to 19 years. Internal assessment examinations were conducted every 3 months and an average of the scores obtained by each student during all the internal assessment examinations was calculated and recorded. A mean score of 35% and above and 65% and above were considered eligible for appearing in the University examinations and High scorers respectively. Blood samples were taken and the open slide method of ABO blood groups testing was followed. Blood groups, marks obtained by the students were tabulated in MS Excel sheet and were analysed using appropriate methods. Observations: It was observed that 97.4% of blood group A were eligible for appearing in University examinations and 50.6% of the students belonging to blood group A were high scorers. Conclusion: The present study concludes that maximum number of students who performed better in their academics belonged to blood group A.

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