Blood group and rhesus antigens among blood donors attending the central blood bank, Sudan

ABSTRACT

It is well known that the Rhesus system remains the second most clinically important blood group system after the ABO. There is no published work regarding the frequency of various Rhesus antigens among Sudanese population. In order to minimize Rhesus allo-immunization among blood recipients a cross sectional study was conducted to determine the frequency of various Rhesus antigens among the blood donors attending the Central Blood Bank in Khartoum. Two hundred male blood donors were enrolled in the study. ABO and Rhesus typing were performed using the classical slide method and gel micro typing system. The frequency percentage of ABO blood phenotypes in the total samples were as follows O[51.5%], A [29.5%], B [16%], and AB [6%]; whereas the frequency percentage of Rh antigens were D [93%], e [79.5%], c [68.5%], C, [27%], E [18.5%]. We concluded that the frequency of the Rh antigens can be shown in this order D > e > c > C > E. Special precautions need to be undertaken to minimize any possible allo-immunization by such antigens