Distribution of clinically relevant erythrocyte antigens among blood donors of the Republic of Srpska

Introduction: Identifying voluntary blood donors with rare phenotype characteristics is the basic precondition for creating a registry of blood donors with rare blood groups. Aims of the study: Determining the presence of phenotypes in the clinically most relevant blood group systems in regular blood donors at the Institute for Transfusion Medicine of the Republic of Srpska, with the goal to create a national registry of blood donors with rare blood groups. Patients and Methods: Determination of antigens in the Rh system was performed by the automatic microplate method, as well as by gel method. Determination of antigens in other blood group systems Kell, Kidd, Duffy, MNS, Lewis and Lutheran was performed by the gel method and test tube method. Altogether 384 blood donors were screened between 2012 and 2013. Results: The analysis of Rh phenotypes showed that most of the examinees had the Rh phenotype CcDee ,29.7% and 26.0% the ccddee, and the least of them had the Rh phenotype ccddEe 0.8%, Ccddee 1.6% and ccDee 2.3%. The antigen Cw was proved to be in 13 donors (3.4%), while the antigen P1 was detected in 291 donors (75.8%). In analyzing the Lewis antigen system, most of the blood donors were found to have the phenotype Le (a-b+), 74.0%. By analyzing the Lutheran antigen system, the phenotype Lu (a-b+) was detected in most of the donors typed for Lutherean antigens, that is, in 93.0% of them. One individual was found to have the phenotype Lu (a+b-) (0.3%), and two donors the phenotype Lu (a-b-) (0.5%). The analysis of the Kell antigen system showed most of the donors were of the phenotype kk, 93.2%, one individual was found to have the phenotype KK (0.3%) and 25 donors the phenotype Kk (6.5%). In analyzing the Kidd antigen system, most of the donors were found to have the phenotype Jk(a+b+), 46.6% and 29.4% the Jk(a-b+), whereas 24.0% had the phenotype Jk(a+b-). According to the study of MN antigen in the MNS system, most of the donors were typed as MN, 50.0% and 33.9% as MM, while the phenotype NN was detected in 16.1% donors. Analyzing the S and s antigens in the MNS system, the phenotypes Ss were found in most of the donors, 49.0% and ss in 43.2%, whereas the phenotype SS was detected in 7.8% donors. The analysis of the Duffy antigen system showed most of the donors were of the phenotype Fy(a+b+), 46.6% and 34.6% of the Fy(a-b+), while the phenotype Fy(a+b-) was observed in 18.8% donors. Conclusion: Data on the distribution of clinically relevant erythrocyte antigens among regular blood donors in the Republic of Srpska is in accordance with the data set out in the literature for the caucasian.