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Original Research | Medical Science | Volume 15 Issue 7, July 2026 | Pages: 993 - 994 | India
Frequency of Rh and Kell Antigens Among Blood Donors: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study from a Tertiary Care Centre
Abstract: Background: Knowledge of the frequency of clinically significant red cell antigens, particularly those within the Rh and Kell systems, is essential for maintaining safe transfusion practices and ensuring efficient inventory management. Limited regional data from tertiary care centres highlight the need for detailed evaluation of local antigen distribution. Aim: To determine the prevalence of Rh antigens (D, C, c, E, e) and the Kell (K) antigen among blood donors at a tertiary care centre. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted over six months duration from January 2025 to June 2025 encompassing 3,000 healthy blood donors. Antigen typing for Rh (D, C, c, E, e) and Kell (K) was performed using an automated immunohematology analyzer based on standardized column agglutination technology. Commercially validated reagent antisera were used, and all procedures were carried out strictly according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Antigen and phenotype frequencies were calculated to assess their distribution within the donor population. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Among the 3,000 donors, Rh(D) positivity was 94.6%, while 5.4% were Rh(D)-negative. The frequencies of other Rh antigens were C - 87.2%, c - 52.3%, E - 18.5%, and e - 98.1%. The most common Rh phenotype identified was R1R1 (DCe/DCe) at 43.4%, followed by R1r (DCe/dce) at 27.0%, and R1R2 (DCe/DcE) at 14.8%. The prevalence of the Kell (K) antigen was low at 2.7%. Conclusion: The study shows a high prevalence of Rh(D) and consistently high frequencies of the e and C antigens, indicating that compatible units for these antigens are generally easy to source. In contrast, the moderate frequency of the c antigen and the low frequency of the E antigen may pose challenges when providing matched blood for patients with corresponding antibodies. The low prevalence of the Kell (K) antigen ensures good availability of K-negative units, which is essential for preventing alloimmunization in high-risk groups. Overall, the antigen distribution data support the development of region-specific donor registries, more efficient inventory planning for extended antigen matching, and improved transfusion safety for patients requiring repeated transfusions.
Keywords: Rh blood group, Kell antigen, Blood donors, Alloimmunization, Phenotype
How to Cite?: Dr. Gulab Chand Jatolia, Dr. Ashok Pal, Dr. Sunita Bundas, "Frequency of Rh and Kell Antigens Among Blood Donors: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study from a Tertiary Care Centre", Volume 15 Issue 7, July 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 993-994, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=MR26712161422, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/MR26712161422