Duffy blood group genotyping in Thai blood donors.
BACKGROUND
Duffy (FY) blood group genotyping is important in transfusion medicine because Duffy alloantibodies are associated with delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions and hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn. In this study, FY allele frequencies in Thai blood donors were determined by in-house PCR with sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP), and the probability of obtaining compatible blood for alloimmunized patients was assessed.


METHODS
Five hundred blood samples from Thai blood donors of the National Blood Centre, Thai Red Cross Society, were included. Only 200 samples were tested with anti-Fy(a) and anti-Fy(b) using the gel technique. All 500 samples and four samples from a Guinea family with the Fy(a-b-) phenotype were genotyped by using PCR-SSP. Additionally, the probability of obtaining antigen-negative red blood cells (RBCs) for alloimmunized patients was calculated according to the estimated FY allele frequencies.


RESULTS
The FY phenotyping and genotyping results were in 100% concordance. The allele frequencies of FY*A and FY*B in 500 central Thais were 0.962 (962/1,000) and 0.038 (38/1,000), respectively. Although the Fy(a-b-) phenotype was not observed in this study, FY*B(ES)/FY*B(ES) was identified by PCR-SSP in the Guinea family and was confirmed by DNA sequencing.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results confirm the high frequency of the FY*A allele in the Thai population, similar to that of Asian populations. At least 500 Thai blood donors are needed to obtain two units of antigen-negative RBCs for the Fy(a-b+) phenotype.
Graduate Program, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Thammasat University, Pathumtani, Thailand. oytipntl@hotmail.com.
Oytip
O
Nathalang
Graduate Program, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Thammasat University, Pathumtani, Thailand.
Kamphon
K
Intharanut
Graduate Program, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Thammasat University, Pathumtani, Thailand.
Kanokpol
K
Siriphanthong
National Blood Centre, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand.
Siriporn
S
Nathalang
National Blood Centre, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand.
Pawinee
P
Kupatawintu
D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D001782:Blood Donors; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004375:Duffy Blood-Group System / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013785:Thailand; D055815:Young Adult
C473745:ACKR1 protein, human; D004375:Duffy Blood-Group System; D007518:Isoantibodies; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D004247:DNA
Allele frequencies; Duffy blood group; Genotyping; PCR-SSP; Thais