The American Red Cross, Penn-Jersey Region now offers molecular genotyping and welcomes patient and donor samples for genetic testing for blood group and platelet antigens.  The laboratory employs Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and PCR-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorpphism (RFLP) technology for molecular genotyping from DNA samples.  Importantly and uniquely, the Molecular Laboratory also uses DNA and RNA sequencing to resolve complex Rh blood group alleles, identify weak ABO subgroups and characterize new mutations and null alleles in any of the blood group or platelet antigen systems. 

The Molecular Laboratory can help resolve complex antibody identification problems or help select compatible donors with state-of-the-art molecular testing.  Molecular testing can be used as an adjunct to serologic testing and can save rare reagents and donor units.  Consider molecular testing when:

• Typing a patient who has had multiple transfusions and/or has a positive Direct Antiglobulin Test (DAT);
• Screening for antigen-negative donor units when antisera are in short supply or not available;
• Resolving ABO and Rh typing discrepancies for patients and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reportable donor discrepancies;
• Determining the complete genotype of sickle cell or thalassemia patients needing long-term transfusion support;
• Determining paternal RhD zygosity;
• Resolving/confirming weak D or D variants;
• Identifying e-variants;
• Typing panel and rare donor cells;
• Predicting fetal risk for hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) or neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAIT);
• Genotyping for NAIT and post-transfusion purpura (PTP).

Testing is currently available for:

• BLOOD GROUP ANTIGENS
  • ABO – A₁, A₂, B, O and subgroups
  • Rh – D, C/c, E/e, VS, V
  • RHD Zygosity; Partial D and Weak D
  • Duffy – Fy^a, Fy^b, Fy^x, Fy(a-b-) GATA mutation
  • Kell – K, k, Js^a, Js^b ,Kp^a, Kp^b
  • MNS – M, N, S, s, S-s-U^var
  • Kidd – Jk^a, Jk^b
  • Dombrock – Do^a, Do^b, Hy, Jo, Gy
  • Sequencing of cDNA (RNA)
  • Characterization of null alleles (RNA)


• PLATELET ANTIGENS
  • HPA-1a, HPA-1b  (PL^A1/A2)
  • HPA-2a, HPA-2b  (Ko^b/a)
  • HPA-3a, HPA-3b  (Bak^a/b)
  • HPA-4a, HPA-4b  (Pen^a/b, Yuk^b/a)
  • HPA-5a, HPA-5b  (Br^b/a)
  • HPA-15a, HPA-15b  (Gov^b/a)

  For additional information or to arrange for testing services please call 215-451-4917 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .