Research Journal of Medical Sciences
ISSN: Online 1993-6095ISSN: Print 1815-9346
Abstract
In the realm of transfusion medicine, after ABO antigens, the Rh D antigen holds significant importance. The prevalence of weak D phenotypes varies significantly among different ethnic populations. Weak D refers to a reduced expression of the D antigen on red blood cells, making it necessary to conduct an extended testing with the Indirect Antiglobulin Test to detect it. The clinical significance of weak D becomes apparent when labeling donors and patients, as donors with weak D are labeled as D positive and recipients as D negative. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of weak D among D negative blood donors in our population. The research involved a retrospective analysis of data from the Department of Immuno Haematology and Blood Transfusion at Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai over a two‐year period from January 2021 to December 2022. At our center, all healthy blood donor samples were tested for ABO and Rh D typing using routine tube methods with two different anti‐D reagents: Anti‐D (IgM) monoclonal and a combination of anti‐D (IgM and IgG). Blood samples that did not show agglutination in the immediate spin method were further subjected to weak D testing using IgG anti‐D in the IAT phase. Results: Out of the 48,878 donor blood samples analyzed for ABO and Rh blood grouping, 93.47% were Rh‐D positive and 6.52% were Rh‐D negative. All Rh‐D negative samples underwent weak D testing and 2.29% (73 samples) were found to be weak D positive. This study highlights the prevalence of weak D antigen among blood donors in our representative population from Madurai district. Testing for weak D in blood donors using the tube method can sometimes be challenging due to the weak expression of the D antigen. This may lead to false‐negative results and misclassification of Rh‐negative individuals as weak D individuals. Therefore, it is crucial to employ advanced techniques in weak D testing among blood donors to ensure the safety and effectiveness of blood transfusions.
How to cite this article:
G. Saranya, B. Anandeeswari and M. Sintha. Prevalence of Weak D among Blood Donors in a Tertiary Care Hospital, in South India.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36478/10.59218/makrjms.2023.394.397
URL: https://www.makhillpublications.co/view-article/1815-9346/10.59218/makrjms.2023.394.397