Topic Teaching: Erythrocyte Antigen Prediction by Genotyping

Speaker:

Dr. Philip Berardi, MD, PhD, FRCPC
Medical Consultant, Canadian Blood Services
Clinician Investigator, Cancer Therapeutics Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

Objectives:

1.  Understand why red cell genotyping can be a valuable addition to serology testing.
2.  Describe common causes of variability in RhD antigen expression and detection.
3.  Explain challenges of antigen typing for RhD/RhCE by serologic methods.
4.  Give an overview of common molecular methods being used and technology in development.
5.  Outline indications for RBC genotyping in patients likely to require transfusion.

References:

1.  Transfusion. 2016; 56: 743-754. Comprehensive red blood cell and platelet antigen prediction from whole genome sequencing: proof of principle.  Lane WJ, Westhoff CM, Uy JM, et al.
2.  Transfusion. 2015 Mar; 55(3): 680–689.  It's time to phase in RHD genotyping for patients with a serologic weak D phenotype.  S. Gerald Sandler, Willy A. Flegel, Connie M. Westhoff, Gregory A. Denomme, Meghan Delaney, Margaret A. Keller, Susan T. Johnson, Louis Katz, John T. Queenan, Ralph R. Vassallo and Clayton D. Simon.
3.  Lancet Haematol. 2015 Jul;2(7):e282-9.  Integration of red cell genotyping into the blood supply chain: a population-based study.  Flegel WA, Gottschall JL, GA. Denomme.
4.  Blood. 2013;122:1062-71.  High prevalence of red blood cell alloimmunization in sickle cell disease despite transfusion from Rh-matched minority donors.  Chou ST, Jackson T, Vege S, Smith-Whitley K, Friedman DF, CM. Westhoff.
5.  Blood. 2009 Jul 9;114(2):248-56.  Red cell genotyping and the future of pretransfusion testing.  David J. Anstee.

Note: The session is a self-approved group learning activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification program of The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

To register for the LearnTransfusion series, send an email to learn.transfusion@blood.ca with  “Weekly Transfusion Medicine Seminars” in the subject line. Include your name and complete e-mail address in the body of the e-mail, and confirm that you would like to register for the LearnTransfusion series. You will then receive weekly email notifications of upcoming series events with details on how to join the webinars (e.g., call-in number and a link to register for the webinar).

The LearnTransfusion series is the seminar component of the Areas of Focused Competency (AFC)-Diploma Program in Transfusion Medicine. The series, organized by Canadian Blood Services is also open to all practitioners in the field of Transfusion Medicine. Through a series of regular webinars, trainees and practitioners are exposed to various scientific, technical and clinical aspects of transfusion medicine.