title: Proportion of Rh phenotypes in voluntary blood donors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Rh system is the major blood group system besides ABO system. Even after proper blood grouping and cross matching there is a possibility of alloimmunization and antibody production in the recipients against the Rh or minor blood group antigens like Kell, MNSs, Duffy etc. Keeping in view the heavy financial burden of complete phenotyping of blood; the determination of only Rh phenotypes can play a major role in preventing alloimmunization and adverse events in multitransfusion cases. To determine the proportion of Rh phenotypes in voluntary blood donors with a view to generate blood bank data for constitution of panel of blood donors for multipurpose utilities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Identification of Rhesus factors (Rh) was done by the antigen antibody agglutination test by the test tube method on 10,133 healthy voluntary donors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The phenotypic frequencies of Rh blood groups in the studied population were D-92.25%, C-87.55%, E-26.55%, c-51.06% and e-98.42%. Thus 'e' was the most common and E was the least common of all the Rh types. Phenotypically DCCee group was the most common phenotype and dccee was least common type.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Determination of Rh phenotypes can play a major role in preventing alloimmunization and avoiding adverse events in multitransfusion cases.
authors.affiliation: Commandant, 151 Base Hospital, C/o 99 APO, India.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Transfusion Medicine, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune 40, India.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Philip
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Transfusion Medicine, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune 40, India.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Mallhi
authors.affiliation: Resident, Department of Transfusion Medicine, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune 40, India.
authors.forename: Pramod
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yadav
keywords: Alloimmunization; Multitransfused cases; Rh blood group; Rh phenotypes