Determination of Duffy blood group antigens in blood donors is important in transfusion medicine, since in patients with possible presence of antibodies against these antigens a hemolytic transfusion reaction after incompatible red blood cells transfusion can be developed. In Blood Transfusion Centre of Slovenia when the blood donors Fyb antigen of the Duffy blood group system is determining using the new automated Erytra system on gel cards (Grifols), the indeterminable results were encountered. The goal of the Master's thesis was to upgrade the partially implemented qPCR method for molecular determination of Duffy blood group and prepare an algorithm for testing blood donors with serologically indeterminable results for the Fyb antigen. After the optimization of the qPCR using the allelic discrimination approach for detection of FY 265C>A single nucleotide polymorphism and regarding the data from the literature, we were able to correctly predict the presence of the FY*02W.01/.02 alleles, responsible for the presence of Fyb+w antigen. Based on data from the literature, the FY -67T>C polymorphic site was selected, qPCR reaction was optimized and the presence of the FY*02N.01 allele, responsible for the absence of the Fyb antigen on erythrocytes, was correctly predicted using our qPCR results. qPCR reactions were performed on blood donor samples with indeterminable serological results for the Fyb antigen, using the new Erytra system. By combining the qPCR results we were able to to determine the genotype and predict the phenotype of the Duffy blood group system for all tested samples. Only 50 % have the genotype FY*A/FY*02W.01/.02 and therefore the phenotype Fy(a+b+w). In order to prepare an algorithm for testing blood donors with serologically indeterminable results obtained with the Erytra analytical system, an analysis of additional serological tests using Bio-Rad gel cards and test tubes were performed. A six-cell matrix was used to compare these results with qPCR results, which was determined as a gold standard, and the tube test was rated as a better serological test. The result of of our work was the proposal of an algorithm, according to which the samples with indeterminable results for the Fyb antigen, obtained during testing on the Erytra system, should be further tested in the tube. In case of negative and indeterminable results, the allelic discrimination qPCR testing could be performed. The proposed algorithm proved to be suitable for determining the presence of the Fyb+w antigen.
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