ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the RHD zygosity distribution and the genetic characteristics of RHD gene in the Dong ethnic population in southeast area of Guizhou province.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Based on the characteristics of Chinese RHD and the RHD specific deletion, two pairs of primers specific for hybrid Rhesus box and exon 1 of RHD respectively, were designed, combined with a pair of internal control primers. Polymerase chain reaction was performed to genotype the samples.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the 292 RhD positive samples, 58 (19.86%) were RHD+/RHD- heterozygotes, and the others (80.14%) were RHD+/RHD+ homozygotes. In the 9 D negative samples, 5 were RHD+/RHD- heterozygotes (2 weak D, 3 Del), 3 were RHD+/RHD+ homozygotes (1weak D, 2 Del), and 1 was RHD-/RHD- homozygote.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>RHD+/RHD- heterozygosity is higher (19.86%) in D positive individuals of Dong ethnic group in Guizhou province than that in other areas; RHD gene heterozygosity is also high in the D negative individuals in this ethnic group.</p>