Introduction: Determination of RhD variants in blood donors, pregnant women, and newborns is important for transfusion strategies, in order to prevent RhD alloimmunisation
and hemolytic disease of fetuses and newborns. Implementation of molecular RHD typing in two transfusion institutes
is presented in this article, from Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Belgrade (Serbia). Study Design and 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 (Banja Luka, 92 samples; Belgrade, 61 samples). 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. 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.
