The red blood cells (RBCs) of most adult individuals display an I+i- phenotype, whereas those of newborns and some rare adult individuals are typed as I-i+. The phenotype in the latter category, designated as adult i, is under genetic influence as the RBCs of I+i+ individuals display strengths of I and i antigen expression intermediate to that of ordinary adults and ii-adults. As there was no information on the occurrence of adult i phenotype in the Indian population, the present study was undertaken. The RBCs of randomly selected subjects were screened with anti-I and anti-i reagents by a saline tube technique at 220C. Individuals with unusual I and i antigen reactivity patterns were further tested by a semi-quantitative method with a battery of anti-I and anti-i reagents, followed by family studies. Three of the 5864 donors tested showed an elevated strength of i antigen. Further study revealed an intermediate strength of both I and i antigens compared with those on RBCs from adult and cord blood samples. All three probands came from an ethnic Parsi community. The phenotype (referred to as I-int) was shown to be inherited, being passed through two generations, but none of the members of the families had displayed an adult i phenotype. The I-int phenotype detected showed an ethnic association because all three subjects belonged to an endogamous Parsi community that has migrated to India some centuries ago from Persia, the present-day Iran.
A use of platelet additives solution (PAS) improves storage conditions so as to give increased shelf life to platelets and to maintain hemostatic function.
The implementation of diversion pouches is to minimise the risk of bacterial contamination as the initial blood flow is prevented from entering primary bag collections as it is diverted into a pouch. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of bacterial contamination in the diversion pouches used during blood collections in the Transfusion Department of Hospital Seberang Jaya, Penang, Malaysia.
Diego blood group antigen, Di(a), is very rare among Caucasians and Blacks, but relatively common among the South American Indians and Asians of Mongolian origin. The antibody to Di(a) is clinically significant to cause hemolytic disease in a new-born or hemolytic transfusion reaction.