%0 Journal Article
%T Mapping Rare Erythrocyte Phenotypes in Morocco: A Tool to Overcome Transfusion Challenges
%A A. Benahadi
%A S. Boulahdid
%A B. Adouani
%A A. Laouina
%A A. Mokhtari
%A A. Soulaymani
%A K. Hajjout
%A M. Benajiba
%A R. Alami
%J Journal of Blood Transfusion
%D 2014
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2014/707152
%X The aim of this research is to search for the distribution of blood groups in all the regions of Morocco. This study, done for the first time, aimed to provide the frequency of the Rhesus system and Kell (K) in more than 55000 blood donors from nine different regions around the country. In addition, the frequency of the Cellano, Duffy, Kidd, and MNS blood antigens was searched for 500 blood donors from the Rabat¡¯s region. Frequency of blood donors with rare blood groups was characterized for the first time in the country and compared to results found from other populations. 1. Introduction Blood group phenotypes have been used for several applications as for blood transfusion practices and population genetic studies [1¨C3]. In Morocco, no study has identified yet the distribution and frequency of different blood groups. In this perspective we tried to identify the Rhesus phenotypes in nine different regions spanning the whole country. We have also conducted a study to determine the frequencies of the k (cellano), Fya, Fyb, Jka, Jkb, S, and s antigens in blood donors (BD) from the Rabat region. 2. Materials and Methods Fifty-five thousand six hundred and thirty ( ) BD who gave blood in nine different regions were phenotyped for the following Rhesus blood antigen D, C, E, c, and e. In addition, from the CRTS Rabat, we phenotyped 513 BD in the S and s antigens from the MNS system, Fya and Fyb antigens from the Duffy system, Jka and Jkb antigens from the Kidd system, and k (cellano) antigen from the Kell system. For the determination of Rhesus and Kell typing, we used the OLYMPUS PK7300 Automated System and/or microplates by standard hemagglutination test using commercial monoclonal antisera IgM anti-D, anti-C, anti-c, anti-E, anti-e, and anti-K monoclonal antibodies (Diagast). All samples that showed negative agglutination with monoclonal/polyclonal IgM/IgG anti-D and the Fy (a£¿, b£¿) phenotype were confirmed using Coombs¡¯ test. Fya, Fyb, Jka, Jkb, S, s, and k (cellano) antigens were typed by commercially prepared polyclonal antisera (Seraclone) with microplates methods for S antigen and by hemagglutination in gel cards (BIO-RAD,ORTHO/BLISS, INVITROGEN) for other antigens. Positive and negative control cells and Coombs¡¯ control cells were used for quality controls. The allele frequencies were calculated using the gene counting method, which was described by Mourant et al. in 1976 [4]. Statistical analysis was carried out using Microsoft Excel and the program PASTE [5]. 3. Results and Discussion We characterized the Rhesus antigens distribution in 55630
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jbt/2014/707152/