Role of extended red cell phenotyping in management of patient with multiple antibodies and their utility in development of indigenous cell panels for antibody screening

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The frequencies of clinically significant blood groups antigens (Rh, Duffy, Kell, Kidd, MNS, P and Lewis) should be known to BTS to manage patients with clinically significant antibodies. This study was conducted to help develop in-house cell panels to manage such patients. Methods and Materials: A total of 331 donors with O blood group with age group of 18 to 45 years, repeatedly donating blood were included in the study. They were screened for antigens of Rh, Kell, Kidd, Duffy, MNS, P and Lewis blood group system. Results: Among 331 donors, 299 (90.3%) donors were RhD Positive. e antigen was prevalent in 328 (99.1%) donors. Only 2 (3.5%) donors with E antigen were lacking D antigen also. All D negative donors (9.7% of total donors) were having strong expression of c and e antigen on their red cells. In Kell system, 100% donors were k antigen positive. All K positive donors are also positive for D antigen. In Kidd and Duffy system, Jka and Fya are more prevalent. In Lewis system, Lea-Leb+ (66.5%) is the commonest phenotype. In MNS system, M antigen was present in 87.61% of donors and s antigen in 83.38% of donors. Conclusions: Knowledge of red cell antigen phenotype frequencies in a population is helpful in terms of their ethnic distribution, in creating a donor data bank for preparation of indigenous cell panels, and providing antigen negative compatible blood to patients with multiple alloantibodies.