Determination of C,c,E and e Antigens Prevalence in Rh D Negative Individuals: Is it Good Exercise with Utilities in Clinical Blood Transfusion Practices?

Introduction: Besides D antigen, C,c,E and e antigens of Rh blood group system are the most important antigens involved in alloimmunisation. The prevalence of C,c,E and e antigens in Rh D negative individuals in local population has many utilities in transfusion medicine practice. Aim: To determine the prevalence of C,c,E and e antigens in Rh D negative individuals. Materials and Methods: This prospective observational study was performed at Bhanumati clinical laboratory, Navsari, Gujarat, India, from January 2020 to January 2022. A total of 270 Rh D negative samples irrespective of ABO blood group status were typed for C,c,E and e antigen using monoclonal reagents from two different manufacturers using conventional tube technique. The most likely phenotype and genotype were determined using reference textbooks. Possibility of weak D in these 270 samples was ruled out using polyspecific Antihuman Globulin Reagent performing test for weak D antigens. Results were analysed using Excel spread sheet. Results: Prevalence of C,c,E, and e antigen in the 270 Rh D negative samples were, C (17, 6.29%), c (267, 98.88%), E (1, 0.37%) and e (270, 100%). Most probable genotypes were dce/dce(rr), dCe/dce(r’r), dCe/dCe(r’r’) and dcE/dce(r’’r). Conclusion: Data obtained of C,c,E and e antigen prevalence in Rh D negative individuals is having varied utilities in blood transfusion services such as formulating rare blood group registry, preparing in house screening and panel red cells, and maintaining inventory of rare blood group units using freezing technology, if available