Genotyping of Red Blood Cell, Granulocyte and Platelet Antigens: Current Applications in the German-Speaking Countries

Abstract

More than 10 years ago molecular methods for blood group, platelet and granulocyte antigen prediction became available, but today they are still less established than HLA genotyping, which has often replaced HLA serology. The implementation varies considerably among different health care systems, and a wider availability is desirable and feasible for more patients to benefit from such genotyping. A consensus statement for the established clinical indications of genotyping in the German-speaking countries was published in 2000. This summary is based on the recent literature and discussions at the biannual workshops organized by the Working Party Immunohematology/Gene Technology of the German Society for Transfusion Medicine and Immunohematology (DGTI). As a prerequisite for wider use, commercial kits for routine molecular blood group testing have become available. Publications, conference contributions and genotyping workshop participation indicated increasing application and acceptance in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. The benefit for the patients and the cost efficacy was established for many indications: weak D testing in patients and, particularly, pregnant women; blood group genotyping in perinatal care, in transfused patients and in patients with immunohematologic problems; RHD genotyping in donors for DEL and D+/- chimera; and RHD zygosity testing. We propose an update of the Consensus Statement 2000 to reflect the currently much wider indications for blood group, platelet and granulocyte antigen genotyping.