RHD genotyping and its implication in transfusion practice

• Published in: Transfusion and apheresis science Vol. 51; no. 3; pp. 59 - 63
• Main Authors: Sassi, Awatef, Ouchari, Mouna, Houissa, Batoul, Romdhane, Houda, Abdelkefi, Saida, Chakroun, Taher, Jemni Yacoub, Saloua
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2014
• Subjects: Blood Grouping and Crossmatching - methods; Blood Transfusion; Exons; Female; Genotyping Techniques; Hematology, Oncology, and Palliative Medicine; Humans; Male; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; PCR-multiplex; PCR-SSP; Rh-Hr Blood-Group System - genetics; RHD genotyping; Tunisia; Tunisian D negative blood donors; Tunisia; PCR-SSP; RHD genotyping; PCR-multiplex; Tunisia; Tunisian D negative blood donors
• ISSN: 1473-0502; 1878-1683
• DOI: 10.1016/j.transci.2014.10.019

The limitations of serology can be overcome by molecular typing. In order to evaluate the contribution of RH systematic genotyping and its implication in transfusion practice, a genotyping of D− blood donors was initiated. Blood samples were collected from 400 unrelated D− individuals. All samples were tested by RHD exon 10 PCR. In order to clarify the molecular mechanisms of RHD gene carrier, we applied molecular tools using different techniques: PCR-multiplex, and PCR-SSPs. Among 400 D− subjects tested, 390 had RHD gene deletion; and 10 had RHD exon 10 of which seven were associated with the presence of the C or E antigens. Among D− carriers, we observed in five cases the presence of RHD-CE-Ds hybrid, in four cases the presence of pseudogene RHD ψ and in one case the presence of weak D type 4. Since the majority of aberrant alleles were associated with C or E antigens and the preliminary infrastructure for molecular diagnostic were absent in all Tunisia territory, we recommend to reinforce transfusion practice to consider D− donors but C+/E+ antigens as D+ donors and the application of RHD molecular typing only to solve serologic problems.