Assessment of Minor Blood Group System Antigens and Their Phenotype among Voluntary Blood Donors in Ethiopian Blood and Tissue Bank Service, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Red blood cell antigens are numerous in structural and functional diversity; some are proteins while others are  carbohydrates. The international society of blood transfusion currently recognized 43 blood group systems containing 349 red cell  antigens. It also acknowledged 9 blood group systems (ABO, Rhesus, Kell, Duffy, Kidd, MNS, P, Lewis, and Lutheran) that are clinically  significant and associated with hemolytic transfusion reactions as well as hemolytic disease of fetuses and newborns. The objective of  this study was to assess the distribution of minor blood group antigens and their phenotype among voluntary blood donors in Ethiopian  blood and tissue bank service in Addis Ababa.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March 2022 among 260  volunteer blood donors to determine minor blood group antigens and their phenotype at EBTBS, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Tests were  performed using Galileo Neo Immucor, which is fully automated Immunohematology analyzer.

Result: A total of 260 blood donors were  screened of which 153 (59%) were males. The antigen frequencies of minor blood group systems were: Fy(a), Fy(b), Jk(a), Jk(b), k, S, s were  33.5%, 43.5%, 97.7%, 40.4%, 100%, 45%, 90%, respectively. Regarding phenotype distribution, the most common phenotypes were:  Duffy Fy (a-b+) 36.9%, MNS S-s+ 55% and Kidd Jk (a+b-) 59.6%.

Conclusion: This study highlights the frequencies of Fy(a), Fy(b), Jk(a), Jk(b),  k, S and s blood group antigens and their phenotypes in volunteer blood donors at EBTBS, Addis Ababa. For the management of  alloimmunization cases in transfused patients, knowledge of these minor blood group antigens is relevant.