Blood group genotyping by high-throughput DNA analysis: application to the French panel of RBC reagents

Area of Science:

• Transfusion Medicine
• Immunogenetics
• Hematology

Background:

• Blood group genotyping is established for transfusion but underutilized for reagent red blood cells.
• The Centre National de Référence pour les Groupes Sanguins (CNRGS) in France uses reagent red blood cells for antibody identification.
• High-throughput DNA analysis has not been applied to donors of reagent red blood cells.

Purpose of the Study:

• Compare serological phenotype with DNA-predicted phenotype in reagent red blood cell donors.
• Evaluate the benefit of DNA analysis for reagent red blood cell selection strategies.

Main Methods:

• Serological typing of 346 blood donors' red blood cells for 25 antigens across 10 blood group systems.
• Genotyping using HEA v1.2 BeadChips.
• Comparison of 8876 paired serological and genotypic results.

Main Results:

• Achieved 99.95% concordance between serological phenotype and DNA-predicted phenotype.
• Investigated four discrepancies in RH, KEL, LU, and DO blood group systems.
• Highlighted the precision of genotyping for the Duffy blood group system.

Conclusions:

• Systematic DNA analysis provides valuable data for reagent red blood cell selection.
• Genotyping can be implemented routinely to improve reagent red blood cell quality.
• Revising the definition of "antigen of double dose" based on DNA data is recommended to enhance antibody identification.