Background: Knowledge of blood group distribution is also important for clinical studies, for reliable geographical information and it will help a lot in reducing the maternal mortality rate, as access to safe and sufficient supply of blood will help significantly in reducing the preventable deaths. Aims and Objectives: To study the distibution of ABO and Rh(D) blood group system among phase I MBBS students in North East Karnataka. Material and Methods: The retrospective study done by using records of 300 healthy medical students of 2014-15 and 2015-16 batch studying at the Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Sciences belonging to both the sexes volunteered for the study. The study was conducted at the department of Physiology during the month of August 2015. Results: Distribution of ABO blood group system among phase I MBBS students. The study shows the distribution of various blood groups in numbers as well as in percentage form. Males constituted 60% and females constituted 40% of this study. ‘B’ blood group formed the most common with 52% (50.6% B+ and 1.4% B-) followed by ‘O’ blood group with 22%( 21% O+,1% O-). ‘A’ blood group with 16%(14.2% A+, 1.8% A-). AB blood group with 10% (9% AB+.1% AB-). Conclusion: The study depicts the frequency occurrence of different blood groups among the students in VIMS, Bellary. Also to create awareness as to which blood groups should be stored and given importance.

Keywords: Blood Group; ABO System; Students; Percentage; North East Karnataka.