Conclusion
Rh molecular testing was successfully implemented in both blood transfusion institutes in Banja Luka and Belgrade. This study proved the efficiency of serological algorithms for weak D, as well as the presence of the RHD gene among serologically tested RhD-negative, C/E-positive samples.
Methods
Blood donors' RhD was checked by direct agglutination assays (tube) and indirect antiglobulin test (gel). Molecular RHD typing was performed by PCR-SSP with fluorometric signal detection in both centres. Donors were selected by weak RhD serological reactivity (Banja Luka, 85 samples; Belgrade, 62 samples) or serologically RhD-negative C/E-positive
Results
Among serologically determined weak D donors from the institute from Banja Luka, weak D type 3 was the most frequent (58.8%), followed by type 1 (35.3%) and DNB (1.2%), whereas results obtained at the Belgrade institute were distributed between weak D type 1 (41.9%), type 3 (30.7%), type 14 (6.5%), type 15 (1.6%), and DNB with anti-D (1.6%). In 17.7% of serologically typed weak D samples from the Belgrade institute, the molecular typing result was standard D. Additionally, RHD presence was detected in 9.8% of serologically RhD-negative, C/E-positive samples from both institutes.