Validation of a PCR technique for kidd blood group genotyping

Abstract

The Kidd blood group antigens, Jka and Jkb, are two of the main surface markers which are found on the red blood cells’ membrane. The determination of whether a donor or a recipient has the Jka and/or the Jkb antigens is crucially important in order to have a successful transfusion without the development of adverse incompatibility-related reactions. In Malta, routine serological-based tests are applied with the purpose of differentiating between homozygous and heterozygous states for the Jk antigens respectively. Although these tests are highly specific and sensitive, there are particular clinical scenarios where haemagglutination assays are not suitable for determining the individual’s Kidd blood group status. Additionally, the alternative genotyping procedure has never been applied in Malta within the context of molecular transfusion. Thus, this study was performed to determine whether Polymerase Chain Reaction - Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) is suitable for distinguishing amongst the three different Kidd phenotypes. After extracting 50 DNA from blood samples obtained from serologically-tested healthy donors who expressed at least one of the Kidd antigens, PCR-RFLP analyses were carried out and the results of the latter were compared with the ones previously obtained with haemagglutination. Since the results of both tests were a complete match with one another, the PCR-RFLP method was confirmed as a suitable laboratory technique that can be used to determine the Kidd blood group of donors and recipients.