Reliability of the documented blood group in motor vehicle driving license in Kerala, India - A public health concern?

Introduction: Blood groups documented in motor vehicle driving licenses can provide quick information during emergency transfusion requirements and imbibe self-awareness about one's blood group. The tendency of applicants to mention blood groups without verification during the application may result in incorrect documentation of blood groups in their driving license. The study aims to assess the reliability of the blood groups in driving licenses and their association with sociodemographic variables.

Methods: This was a single-center cross-sectional study conducted over 6 months. Donors who were accepted for donation and willing to participate were included. Donors without a valid driving license were excluded. The blood group details and sociodemographic variables were collected and analyzed. Cross tabulation and Chi-square test were done for bivariate analysis.

Results: In our study, 33 out of 446 (7.39%) participants had incorrect documentation in their driving licenses. Out of 33, 30 were ABO and three were Rh discordant results. Blood group was not mentioned in the case of 37 donors (8.3%). Incorrect documentation was significantly higher for individuals of younger age and those who acquired a license before 2018.

Conclusion: Eight out of 100 individuals had incorrect documentation in their driving license, which is a concern, especially in the situation of emergency transfusion requirements. Approximately 19% of participants revealed that they did not undergo blood grouping during the application process. License issuing authorities should ensure proper blood group verification during the application process.