Background. Red cell Rhesus (Rh) antigen expression is influenced by the genetic polymorphism of RHD and RHCE genes and\nreveals serologically different reactions of RhD variants such as partial D, weak D, and Rh-Del. Serologically, Rh-Del type can only\nbe detected by an adsorption-elution technique, and it might be mistyped as Rh-negative. The prevalence of Rh-Del has not been\nreported yet in Myanmar. Method. A total of 222 Rh-negative blood donors in the National Blood Center were tested for weak D\nand Rh-Del by indirect antihuman globulin and adsorption-elution method, respectively. RhCE typing was performed among Rhnegative\nand Rh-Del. Results. Of them, 75.2% (167/222) were Rh-negative, 15.8% (35/222) were Rh-Del, and 9% (20/222) were\nweak D. Of 202 blood donors (167 true Rh-negative and 35 Rh-Del), all of the Rh-Del positives were C-antigen-positive with 94.3%\nCcee phenotype (33/35) and 5.7% CCee (2/35). Most of the Rh-negative donors (80.2%) were ccee phenotype (134/167).\nConclusion. About half of Rh-Del subjects were repeated donors, and attention was needed to avoid transfusion of truly Rhnegative\npatients to prevent alloimmunization. It is recommended to do Rh-Del typing of Rh-negative donors who are C-antigenpositive\nand consider moving them to the Rh-positive pool. Further study is needed to clarify the alloimmunization status for\ntransfusion of Rh-Del blood to Rh-negative recipients. Molecular markers for RhD-negative and D variants should be established\nin the Myanmar population to improve selection of antisera for Rh typing and enhance safety of the transfusion services.
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