Gene identification of rare B(A) blood group

Abstract

Objective: To study serologic and gene characteristics of the B(A) blood group of blood donation volunteers in Jilin Province, China.

Methods: ABO subgroups were identified by standard serologic techniques in ABO typing discrepancy samples from all donors at the Jilin Blood Center (410,354 non-repeat donors). DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) was collected from each sample and PCR (polymerase chain reaction) was used to sequence exons 6 and 7 and intron 6, part 5 from the ABO subgroup samples. PCR products were sequenced to identify ABO subgroups and the B(A) allele.

Results: Four cases of B(A) blood type were found after sequencing, including two different alleles: B(A)02 and B(A)04. Three of the four alleles were B(A)04.

Conclusion: Among blood donation volunteers in Jilin Province, China, B(A)04 is the most common B(A) blood group allele, followed by B(A)02. The B(A) blood group is associated with a complicated serologic phenotype and DNA detection is necessary for this atypical phenotype sample.

Keywords: ABO subgroup; Allele; B(A) blood group; Genotype; Sequencing analysis.