title: Miltenberger blood group typing by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) melting curve analysis in Thai population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop reliable and convenient methods for Miltenberger (Mi(a) ) blood group typing.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To apply real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) melting curve analysis to Mi(a) blood group typing.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The Mi(a) blood group is the collective set of glycophorin hybrids in the MNS blood group system. Mi(a+) blood is common among East Asians and is also found in the Thai population. Incompatible Mi(a) blood transfusions pose the risk of life-threatening haemolysis; therefore, Mi(a) blood group typing is necessary in ethnicities where the Mi(a) blood group is prevalent.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and forty-three blood samples from Thai blood donors were used in the study. The samples included 50 Mi(a+) samples and 93 Mi(a-) samples, which were defined by serology. The samples were typed by Mi(a) typing qPCR, and 50 Mi(a+) samples were sequenced to identify the Mi(a) subtypes. Mi(a) subtyping qPCR was performed to define GP.Mur. Both Mi(a) typing and Mi(a) subtyping were tested on a conventional PCR platform.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of Mi(a) typing qPCR were all concordant with serology. Sequencing of the 50 Mi(a+) samples revealed 47 GP.Mur samples and 3 GP.Hop or Bun samples. Mi(a) subtyping qPCR was the supplementary test used to further define GP.Mur from other Mi(a) subtypes. Both Mi(a) typing and Mi(a) subtyping performed well using a conventional PCR platform.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mi(a) typing qPCR correctly identified Mi(a) blood groups in a Thai population with the feasibility of Mi(a) subtype discrimination, and Mi(a) subtyping qPCR was able to further define GP.Mur from other Mi(a) subtypes.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Medicine Programme, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University.|Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vongsakulyanon
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kitpoka
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kunakorn
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Srikhirin
mesh_terms: D001789:Blood Group Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D001788:Blood Grouping and Crossmatching / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006021:Glycophorins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D013785:Thailand
chemical_list: D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D006021:Glycophorins
keywords: Miltenberger blood group; Thai population; qPCR melting curve analysis