Keywords : Kell blood group system; phenotype; allele; genotype; Thai population. The high immunogenicity of antigens in the Kell blood group system International Society of Blood Transfusion symbol, KEL, and number, , particularly the K antigen, is clinically significant in transfusion medicine. Immunoglobulin G antibodies against Kell antigens may develop during transfusion or pregnancy, leading to haemolytic transfusion reactions and haemolytic disease of the foetus and newborn.
Individuals without Kell antigens are referred to as having the K 0 phenotype Kell null , which is very rare across all populations. In general, Kell antigen frequencies differ among populations. Hence, additional panel cells are needed to identify antibody specificity among patients with antibodies against these antigens anti-Kp a or anti-Kp b.
Anti-Kp a and anti-Kp b are typically Immunoglobulin G antibodies and exhibit reactivity in the indirect antiglobulin test, especially when using enzyme-treated red blood cells. It is useful for selecting appropriate blood for patients with anti-Kp a and anti-Kp b antibodies, as well as in anthropology studies to determine allele frequencies within populations. The PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism and polymerase chain reaction-sequence-specific primer PCR-SSP methods have been used to genotype these alleles among Iranian patients with alloimmunised multi-transfused thalassaemia 7 , 8 and to determine allele frequencies in the multi-ethnic Brazilian population.
COE No. Written informed consent was obtained from all individuals. Leftover ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-anticoagulated blood samples were collected from unrelated healthy Thai blood donors at the Blood Bank, Thammasat University Hospital, Pathumthani, Thailand, from March to June All the donors who qualified for inclusion had already passed the questionnaire and physical screening procedures for blood donation provided by the National Blood Centre, Thai Red Cross Society.
Blood samples positive for hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, HIV, or syphilis were excluded from the study. Serological testing for Kp a and Kp b antigen typing. The ID Card was then centrifuged, and the results were recorded. Sequence-based genotyping. The PCR products were separated on a 1. Genotyping using polymerase chain reaction-sequence-specific primer. After electrophoresis, PCR products were examined with a blue-light transilluminator. Statistical analysis.
