[Occurrence of D category VI in blood donors in Baden-Württemberg]

33,830 repeated donors and 9,157 first donors were screened for DVI. All D-positive first donors and the repeated donors with depressed D antigen (Du) were tested with Seraclone anti-D (IgM) that is known to be nonreactive with DIV. D-positive donors who were negative with Seraclone anti-D were further evaluated with a monoclonal IgG anti-D nonreactive with DIV. By using a D-screen panel it was attempted to type donors who were also negative with these antibodies. With this procedure, among 42,987 donors, 4 donors with DVI and 2 donors with probable DVI or closely related variants were detected. This is in agreement with previous reports from Great Britain and Australia. These donors with qualitative variants represent 2% of donors previously typed as Du and 10% of D-positive donors who were negative with Seraclone.