Monitoring the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: Prevalence of Antibodies in a Large, Repetitive Cross-Sectional Study of Blood Donors in Germany-Results from the SeBluCo Study 2020-2022.

SARS-CoV-2 serosurveillance is important to adapt infection control measures and estimate the degree of underreporting. Blood donor samples can be used as a proxy for the healthy adult population. In a repeated cross-sectional study from April 2020 to April 2021, September 2021, and April/May 2022, 13 blood establishments collected 134,510 anonymised specimens from blood donors in 28 study regions across Germany.

New ultraviolet C light-based method for pathogen inactivation of red blood cell units.

Background: Pathogen inactivation (PI) technologies for platelet concentrates and plasma are steadily becoming more established, but new PI treatment options for red blood cells (RBCs), the most commonly used blood component, still need to be developed. We present a novel approach to inactivating pathogens in RBC units employing ultraviolet C (UVC) light.

Methods: Whole blood-derived leukoreduced RBCs suspended in PAGGS-C, a third generation additive solution, served as test samples, and RBCs in PAGGS-C or SAG-M as controls.

Two novel antithetical KN blood group antigens may contribute to more than a quarter of all KN antisera in Europe.

Background: All antigens described in the KN blood group system are located in the long homologous repeat D (LHR-D) of complement receptor 1 (CR1). While there have been reports that some sera react only with the long homologous repeat C (LHR-C), the antigens in LHR-C are unknown.

Study Design And Methods: Recombinant LHR-C and LHR-D were used to identify antibodies directed against LHR-C of CR1, into which a point mutation was introduced to characterize the underlying blood group antigens.

Extended Donor Typing by Pooled Capillary Electrophoresis: Impact in a Routine Setting.

Background: PCR with sequence-specific priming using allele-specific fluorescent primers and analysis on a capillary sequencer is a standard technique for DNA typing. We aimed to adapt this method for donor typing in a medium-throughput setting.

Methods: Using the Extract-N-Amp PCR system, we devised a set of eight multiplex allele-specific PCR with fluorescent primers for Fy/Fy, Jk/Jk, M/N, and S/s.

Author Correction: Two large deletions extending beyond either end of the RHD gene and their red cell phenotypes.

The authors of the above paper noticed an error in publication. In Results section, under sub-section RHD genetic variations, the deletion nomenclature for Sample 1 was incorrectly given as [NC_000001.11(NG_007494.

Two large deletions extending beyond either end of the RHD gene and their red cell phenotypes.

Only two partial deletions longer than 655 nucleotides had been reported for the RHD gene, constrained within the gene and causing DEL phenotypes. Using a combination of quantitative PCR and long-range PCR, we examined three distinct deletions affecting parts of the RHD gene in three blood donors. Their RHD nucleotide sequences and exact boundaries of the breakpoint regions were determined.

Molecular typing for blood group antigens within 40 min by direct polymerase chain reaction from plasma or serum.

Determining blood group antigens by serological methods may be unreliable in certain situations, such as in patients after chronic or massive transfusion. Red cell genotyping offers a complementary approach, but current methods may take much longer than conventional serological typing, limiting their utility in urgent situations. To narrow this gap, we devised a rapid method using direct polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification while avoiding the DNA extraction step.

The DAU cluster: a comparative analysis of 18 RHD alleles, some forming partial D antigens.

Background: The Rh system is the most complex and polymorphic blood group system in humans with more than 460 alleles known for the RHD gene. The DAU cluster of RHD alleles is characterized by the single-nucleotide change producing the p.Thr379Met amino acid substitution.

The Rhesus Site.

The Rhesus Site is a resource for information of the 'Rhesus' blood group. It is intended for specialists and non-specialists. The website details research in the field relevant for transfusion medicine, immunohematology, and molecular research.

RHD PCR of D-Negative Blood Donors.

RHD PCR of blood donors may be used to reveal weak D, partial D, DEL and chimeric D+/D- donors among presumed D-negative blood donors. Units donated by such donors pose a definite yet low risk for anti-D immunization of transfusion recipients. The frequency of DEL donors among D-negative donors is 1:350 to 1:2,000 in Europe and up to 1:5 in Asian countries.

D category IV: a group of clinically relevant and phylogenetically diverse partial D.

Background: The D typing strategies in several European countries protect carriers of D category VI (DVI) from anti-D immunization but not carriers of other partial D. Besides DVI, one of the clinically most important partial D is D category IV (DIV). A detailed description and direct comparison of the different DIV types was missing.

Evaluation of single-nucleotide polymorphisms as internal controls in prenatal diagnosis of fetal blood groups.

Background: Determination of fetal blood groups in maternal plasma samples critically depends on adequate amplification of fetal DNA. We evaluated the routine inclusion of 52 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as internal reference in our polymerase chain reaction (PCR) settings to obtain a positive internal control for fetal DNA.

Study Design And Methods: DNA from 223 plasma samples of pregnant women was screened for RHD Exons 3, 4, 5, and 7 in a multiplex PCR including 52 SNPs divided into four primer pools.

Molecular testing in transfusion medicine.

Importance Of The Field: Molecular blood group prediction, including mass scale donor genotyping, is becoming a routine part of transfusion medicine.

Areas Covered In This Review: This review covers transfusion-related applications of the molecular prediction of antigens of red blood cells. Forensic and prenatal applications are not covered.