Background: Paternal zygosity testing is used for determining homo- or hemizygosity of RHD in pregnancies that are at a risk of hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn. At present, this is achieved by using real-time PCR or the Rhesus box PCR, which can be difficult to interpret and unreliable, particularly for black African populations. Methods: DNA samples extracted from 58 blood donors were analyzed using 2 multiplex reactions for RHD-specific targets against a reference (AGO1)² to determine gene dosage by digital PCR. Results were compared with serological data, and the correct genotype for 2 discordant results was determined by long-range PCR, next-generation sequencing, and conventional Sanger sequencing. Results: The results showed clear and reliable determination of RHD zygosity using digital PCR and revealed that 4 samples did not match the serologically predicted genotype. Sanger sequencing and long-range PCR (LR-PCR) followed by next-generation sequencing revealed that the correct genotypes for samples 729M and 351D, which were serologically typed as R₁R₂ (DCe/DcE), were R₂r9 (DcE/dCe) for 729M and R₁r” (DCe/dcE), R₀r^y (Dce/dCE), or R_Zr (DCE/dce) for 351D, in concordance with the digital PCR data. Conclusions: Digital PCR provides a highly accurate method to rapidly define blood group zygosity and has clinical application in the analysis of Rh phenotyped or genotyped samples. The vast majority of current blood group genotyping platforms are not designed to define zygosity, and thus, this technique may be used to define paternal RH zygosity in pregnancies that are at a risk of hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn and can distinguish between homo- and hemizygous RHD-positive individuals.

Purpose: Sickle cell disease (SCD) and thalassemia are common inherited blood disorders in Saudi Arabia, especially in Jazan Province. Patients with these disorders require multiple blood transfusions, which may lead to alloimmunization because of mismatched blood group antigens. In this study, we examined the alloimmunization and autoimmunization rates in patients with SCD and thalassemia together with the involved antibodies. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to review the transfusion history records of patients with SCD and thalassemia at Prince Mohammed bin Nasser Hospital, Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia. Results: Four-hundred thirty-eight patients (385 with SCD, 52 with β-thalassemia, and 1 with α-thalassemia) were received leukoreduced red cell transfusions. The alloimmunization and autoimmunization rates in patients with SCD were 12.98% and 0.52%, respectively. In patients with thalassemia, the alloimmunization and autoimmunization rates were 13.21% and 3.77%, respectively. The most prevalent antibodies in the study population were anti-E (17.19%) and anti-K (14.06%). Conclusion: The alloimmunization and autoimmunization rates were determined in patients with SCD and thalassemia in Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia. The results highlight the need for extended phenotyping to include ABO, RH (D, C, c, E, e), K, Fy^a, Fy^b, Jk^a and Jk^b antigens in the screening panel. This will benefit patients to ensure better transfusion practices.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, research indicates that the COVID-19 disease susceptibility varies among individuals depending on their ABO blood groups. Researchers globally commenced investigating potential methods to stratify cases according to prognosis depending on several clinical parameters. Since there is evidence of a link between ABO blood groups and disease susceptibility, it could be argued that there is a link between blood groups and disease manifestation and progression. The current study investigates whether clinical manifestation, laboratory, and imaging findings vary among ABO blood groups of hospitalized confirmed COVID-19 patients. This retrospective cohort study was conducted between March 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021 in King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre Riyadh and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Demographic information, clinical information, laboratory findings, and imaging investigations were extracted from the data warehouse for all confirmed COVID-19 patients. A total of 285 admitted patients were included in the study. Of these, 81 (28.4%) were blood group A, 43 (15.1%) were blood group B, 11 (3.9%) were blood group AB, and 150 (52.6%) were blood group O. This was almost consistent with the distribution of blood groups among the Saudi Arabia community. The majority of the study participants (79.6% [n = 227]) were asymptomatic. The upper respiratory tract infection (P = .014) and shortness of breath showed statistically significant differences between the ABO blood group (P = .009). Moreover, the incidence of the symptoms was highly observed in blood group O followed by A then B except for pharyngeal exudate observed in blood group A. The one-way ANOVA test indicated that among the studied hematological parameters, glucose (P = .004), absolute lymphocyte count (P = .001), and IgA (P = .036) showed statistically significant differences between the means of the ABO blood group. The differences in both X-ray and computed tomography scan findings were statistically nonsignificant among the ABO age group. Only 86 (30.3%) patients were admitted to an intensive care unit, and the majority of them were blood groups O 28.7% (n = 43) and A 37.0% (n = 30). However, the differences in complications’ outcomes were statistically nonsignificant among the ABO age group. ABO blood groups among hospitalized COVID-19 patients are not associated with clinical, hematological, radiological, and complications abnormality.

Background: Knowing the prevalence of blood group antigens in a given population is important to prevent hemolytic reactions. The Duffy blood group system (FY) has two main antigens, Fy(a) and Fy(b). Antibodies binding these antigens can cause immediate/delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions as well as hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn. In this study, frequencies of Fy(a) and Fy(b) antigen expression and FY phenotypes were determined in a cohort of Saudi blood donors. Methods: For this study, 143 samples were collected from randomly selected volunteer Saudi blood donors living in Jazan Province. Serological analysis, using gel card technology, was performed to detect Fy(a) and Fy(b) antigens among the samples. Results: The frequencies of Fy(a) and Fy(b) antigens were 12.58% and 11.18%, respectively. The numbers and frequencies of FY phenotypes were as follows: Fy(a(+)b(-)), 15 (10.48%); Fy(a(-)b(+)), 13 (9.10%); Fy(a(+)b(+)), 3 (2.10%), and Fy(a(-)b(-)), 112 (78.32%). The frequencies of the FY phenotypes were highly and significantly different in Jazan Saudis compared to other ethnicities (< 0.01). Conclusions: This study reports the frequencies of the Fy(a) and Fy(b) antigens and phenotypes of the FY blood group system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Jazan Province. The null phenotype Fy(a(-)b(-)) was the most prevalent among this population. This study highlights the importance of investigating FY alleles in different provinces of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Purpose: Knowledge of the prevalence of blood group antigens in a given population is important for the prevention of hemolytic reactions. The MNS blood group system (002) has four polymorphic antigens—M, N, S, and s. Anti-S and anti-s antibodies may result in immediate and delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions, and hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn may occur. The present study investigated the frequencies of the main antigens and phenotypes of the MNS blood group system. Subjects and Methods: We randomly obtained 149 samples from anonymous Saudi blood donors living in Jazan Province. Serotyping was conducted using a gel card to investigate (M, N, S, and s) antigens and phenotypes. Results: The frequencies of MNS antigens were as follows: M = 89.26%, N = 51.67%, S = 61.07%, and s = 82.55%. Regarding the MNS phenotypes, nine phenotypes were observed in the study population. The most common phenotype was M+N–S+s+ (n = 36, 24.16%), in contrast to the least common phenotype M+N–S–s– (n = 1, 0.67%). The prevalence of the MNS phenotypes in the current study population was highly and significantly different from that in Europeans (P = 0.044) and African Americans (P = 0.000). Conclusion: In summary, this study reports the frequencies of the MNS antigens and phenotypes in Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia. The most common phenotype was M+N–S+s+, whereas the least observed phenotype was M+N–S–s–. The outcomes of this study may assist the blood banks in Jazan Province to establish an extended phenotyping protocol including the MNS antigens, in particular S and s antigens, to preclude any alloimmunization events.