Search

Background The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of full-length and deleted variants of KIR2DS4 in a population of southern Brazil and compare the results with other populations, as well as comparing two techniques, PCR-SSP and PCR-SSO, for typing of variants. Methods 258 individuals from southern Brazil were analysed by PCR-SSO (“polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific oligonucleotides”, One Lambda, Inc., Canoga Park, CA), of which 161 were also analysed by PCR-SSP. Results The study population showed similarities with other Caucasian populations; 46.5% of individuals had only KIR2DS4 variants, 21.3% had the full-length form and 25.1% had both forms. Conclusion The frequencies found in both groups (genotyped by PCR-SSP and PCR-SSO) were 100% concordant.

We evaluated the usefulness of blood group genotyping as a supplement to hemagglutination to determine the red blood cell (RBC) antigen profile of polytransfused patients with hematological diseases and renal failure. Seventy‐nine patients were selected. They all received more than three units of blood and eight (10%) had already clinical significant alloantibodies occurring alone or in combination against Rh, K, Fya, and Di antigens. DNA was prepared from blood samples and RHCE*E/e, KEL*01/KEL*02, FY*01/FY*02 and JK*01/JK*02 alleles were determined by using PCR‐RFLP. RHD*/RHD*Ψ and RHCE*C/c were tested using multiplex PCR. Discrepancies for Rh, Kell, Duffy, and Kidd systems were found between the phenotype and genotype‐derived phenotype in 16 of the 38 chronically transfused patients. The genotypes of these patients were confirmed by DNA array analysis (HEA Beadchip(™); Bioarray Solutions, Warren, NJ). Genotyping was very important for the determination of the true blood groups of the polytransfused patients, helped in the identification of suspected alloantibodies and in the selection of antigen‐negative RBCs for transfusion. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 24:311–316, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.