Journal of Blood Disorders & Transfusion

Abstract

Distribution of Kell Blood Group System Antigens Kpa, Kpb, and Phenotypes in Major Populations of Sudan

Tariq Elmissbah

Objective of the study: To determine the frequency of kell blood group antigens Kpa, Kpb and their phenotypes in major Sudanese population. Background: Kell blood group system was discovered by Coomb‘s, Mourant, and Race in 1946 from child of Mrs. Kell who was suffering from HDN, and the antibody coated red blood cell of the newborn gave positive direct coomb‘s test, the reason was unexplained and search for antigen lead to discovery of new antigen, named „Kell“. Study design: This study was carried out on 1000 samples in ten major Sudanese tribes. Each sample was tested for Kpa , and Kpb using immunodiffusion gel system.

Materials and methods: This study was carried out in the period between July and December 2009. One thousand venous blood samples were collected into EDTA containers from unrelated individuals after taking consent from the health authority. The Kell Blood group antigens were detected using of gel immune-diffusion system

Results: The results showed that the frequency of Kpa in the major populations of Sudan was 2%, when the frequency of Kpb was the highest with frequency of 99.4%. Conclusion: The frequency of Kell blood group antigens Kpa and Kpb in the major populations of Sudan found to be similar to international frequencies.