Red blood cell antigen portrait of self-identified black donors in Quebec.

ObjectivesThe goal of this study was to establish a red blood cell antigen portrait of self-identified Black donors for the province of Quebec, Canada. BackgroundThe demand for extensively phenotyped red blood cells is on the rise. A good example is the sickle cell patient cohort. To better answer their transfusion needs, Hema-Quebec put forward great efforts to increase the recruitment of donors among cultural communities. Materials and MethodsIn October 2009, an optional question was added on the record of donation to indicate the donor's ethnicity. Self-identified Black donors were extensively phenotyped by the Immunohematology Laboratory, whereas the Research and Development team genotyped red blood cell antigens to complete the picture. ResultsApproximately 1500 self-identified Black donors have donated blood at least once since the beginning of the programme. Genotyping results predicted rare phenotypes: 18 S-s- (3 U-, 15 U+(w)), 15 Js(a+b-), 5 Hy-, 3 Jo(a-), 34 hr(B)+(w)/- and 15 hr(B)-. ConclusionThese Black donors, with or without a rare phenotype, are precious to the patient cohort depending on blood transfusions and to our organisation as the blood provider for the whole province of Quebec.