Frequencies of different blood group antigens and phenotypes in Northern Vietnamese donors

Blood safety is the top priority in transfusion medicine. However, patients in Vietnam are only transfused with ABO and RhD compatible blood products, which could pose a threat to induce alloimmunization. This study was performed to provide information about the frequencies of antigens and phenotypes of clinically significant blood groups in Vietnamese donors.

Blood samples were taken from donors to identify red cell antigens by column agglutination tests. Antigen and phenotype frequencies were calculated and expressed as percentages. Gene frequencies were calculated under the standard assumption of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.

Among the Rh antigens, e was the most common (96.96%) followed by D (96.72%), C (92.86%), c (43.10%), and E (32.59%) with D+C+E-c-e+(54.02%) being the most common phenotype. In the Lewis and Duffy blood group system, the major phenotypes found were Le (a-b+) (60.43%) and Fy (a+b-) (85.39%), respectively. In the Kell and Lutheran blood group system, k and Lu^b were present in 100% of the donors, respectively. The most common phenotypes in the Kidd and MNS blood group system were Jk (a+b+) (47.62%) and M + N+(46.63%), S-s+ (94.42%), respectively. Mi^a was seen in 9.20% of the donors. The frequency of P1 was 22.25%.

This study shows the frequencies of 21 blood group antigens in Northern Vietnam donors. Knowledge of red cell antigen phenotype frequencies can help prepare indigenous cell panels, provide antigen-negative blood to patients with multiple alloantibodies, and prevent alloimmunisation.