Prevalence of RhD variants among blood donors at Gulu Regional Blood Bank, Gulu, Northern Uganda

Abstract

Aim/objective

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of RhD variant phenotypes among voluntary non-remunerated blood donors (VNRBDs) at Gulu Regional Blood Bank (GRBB), Northern Uganda.

Materials and methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study, in which the first 4.0 mL of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) blood samples were collected from VNRBDs and typed for their ABO and RhD blood group status using IgM and IgG monoclonal typing antisera, respectively. Blood samples that tested as RhD negative were further investigated for RhD variant phenotypes using indirect antihuman globulin hemagglutination technique.

Results

We assayed 138 RhD-negative blood samples obtained from VNRBDs. Of these, 66.7% (n=92) were males. Their median age was 24.4 years (range, 14–33 years). Majority of the participants were of ABO blood group O (62.8%, n=86), followed by A (19.7%, n=27), then B (13.9%, n=19) and least AB (3.6%, n=6). The prevalence of RhD variant phenotypes was 0.7% (n=1; 95% confidence interval, 0.5–0.9). There was no statistical association of RhD variant phenotypes with donor gender, tribe and their ABO blood groups.

Conclusion

This study has revealed a high prevalence of RhD variant among blood donors at GRBB in Northern Uganda. It further highlights a potential risk of alloimmunization, as the present blood typing practices do not identify RhD variant phenotypes.

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Keywords:

• Rh blood group
• D variants
• D antigen
• weak D
• partial D
• Uganda

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the blood donors and the team at GRBB. They acknowledge logistic support from Uganda Blood Transfusion Services (UBTS). They are grateful to Ms. Hope Mbabazi Rukundo and Dr. Bernard Natukunda for reviewing this manuscript.

Author contributions

PO, CO, FW, BM and IMT participated in study conception and design; data acquisition, analysis and interpretation; manuscript drafting and revising. CO, BM and IMT critically revised the manuscript. All authors contributed toward data analysis, drafting and critically revising the paper and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.