RHD Genotyping of Rh Negative and Weak D Phenotype among Blood Donors in Southeast Iran

Background: the d antigen is a subset of rh blood group antigens involved in the hemolytic disease of the newborn [hdfn] and hemolytic transfusion reaction [htr]. the hybrid rhesus box that was created after rh gene deletion, was known as a mechanism of the rh-negative phenotype. hybrid marker identification is used to confirm the deletion of the rhd gene and to determine zygosity. this study aims to detect this marker in rh-negative and weak d phenotype blood donors of the southeast of iran.materials and methods: the molecular analysis of the hybrid rhesus box was performed on the 200 rh-negative blood donors in sistan and baluchestan province, southeast iran. the presence of alleles responsible for the d variants was assessed by dna sequencing in 26 weak d phenotype donors.results: of the 200 rh-negative blood samples, 198 samples were homozygous (99%), and two samples were heterozygous (1%). heterozygous samples had rhd*01n.73 allele and the rhd*01n.18 allele. of the 26 samples with weak d phenotype, 16 partial dlo (61%), 4 partial dbt1 (15.3%), 2 partial dv type 2 (7.7%), 1 weak d type 1, 1 weak d type 4.2.3, 1weak d type 105 and 1 rhd (s103p) (4%) were determined.conclusion: since rhd gene deletion is the main mechanism of the rh-negativity in sistan and baluchestan provinces, a hybrid rhesus box marker can be used in resolving rhd typing discrepancies by rhd genotyping methods.