title: Erythrocyte genotyping for transfusion-dependent patients at the Azienda Universitaria Policlinico of Naples.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although minor erythrocyte antigens are not considered clinically significant in sporadic transfusions, they may be relevant for multi-transfusion patients. When serological assay is not conceivable, molecular genotyping allows predicting the red blood cell phenotype, extending the typing until minor blood groups. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of blood group genotyping and compare the molecular typing of erythrocyte antigens with the established serological methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  We selected 225 blood donors and 50 transfusion-dependent patients at the Division of Immunohematology of the Second University of Naples. Blood samples were analyzed with NEO Immucor automated system and genotyped for 38 red blood cell antigens and phenotypic variants with the kit HEA BeadChip™. The comparative study was conducted for RhCE and Kell antigens whose typing is available with both methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed a good correlation between serological and molecular methods for donors that were concordant for 99.5% (224/225) and discordant for 0.5% (1/225). Patients resulted concordant only for 46.0% (23/50) and discordant for 54.0% (27/50); discrepancies were 46.0% (23/50) and 8.0% (4/50) for RhCE and Kell systems respectively. Through molecular genotyping we also identified polymorphisms in RhCE, Kell, Duffy, Colton, Lutheran and Scianna loci in donors and patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Blood group genotyping is particularly useful for poly-transfused patients. Molecular analysis confirms and extends serological test data and then allows us to obtain a better match. This molecular assay can be used in the future to prevent alloimmunization in transfusion-dependent patients.
authors.affiliation: U.O.C. Immunohematology, Transfusion Medicine and Transplant Immunology (SIMT), Regional Reference Laboratory of Transplant Immunology (LIT), Azienda Universitaria Policlinico (AOU), Second University of Naples (SUN), Italy; Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and General Pathology, Second University of Naples (SUN), Italy. Electronic address: angela.belsito@unina2.it.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Belsito
authors.affiliation: U.O.C. Immunohematology, Transfusion Medicine and Transplant Immunology (SIMT), Regional Reference Laboratory of Transplant Immunology (LIT), Azienda Universitaria Policlinico (AOU), Second University of Naples (SUN), Italy.
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: U.O.C. Immunohematology, Transfusion Medicine and Transplant Immunology (SIMT), Regional Reference Laboratory of Transplant Immunology (LIT), Azienda Universitaria Policlinico (AOU), Second University of Naples (SUN), Italy.
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fiorito
authors.affiliation: U.O.C. Immunohematology, Transfusion Medicine and Transplant Immunology (SIMT), Regional Reference Laboratory of Transplant Immunology (LIT), Azienda Universitaria Policlinico (AOU), Second University of Naples (SUN), Italy.
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Iorio
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and General Pathology, Second University of Naples (SUN), Italy.
authors.forename: Amelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Casamassimi
authors.affiliation: Department of Women, Child and General and Specialistic Surgery, Second University of Naples (SUN), Italy.
authors.forename: Silverio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perrotta
authors.affiliation: U.O.C. Immunohematology, Transfusion Medicine and Transplant Immunology (SIMT), Regional Reference Laboratory of Transplant Immunology (LIT), Azienda Universitaria Policlinico (AOU), Second University of Naples (SUN), Italy; Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and General Pathology, Second University of Naples (SUN), Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Napoli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001789:Blood Group Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion; D004912:Erythrocytes; D005260:Female; D056426:Genetic Loci; D060005:Genotyping Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
chemical_list: D001789:Blood Group Antigens
keywords: Blood donor; Blood group; Genotyping; Immunohematology; Thalassemia