Frequencies of the blood groups ABO, Rhesus, D category VI, Kell, and of clinically relevant high-frequency antigens in south-western Germany.

Background: Current estimates of blood group frequencies in Germany were often derived from studies involving less than 12,000 individuals. The frequency of the D category VI was unknown.

Methods: ABO. Kell, and Rhesus blood group data of more than 600,000 donors were reviewed. Allele frequencies were derived by the maximum-likelihood method. The frequency of D category VI was determined in more than 70,000 Rhesus typings.

Results: ABO allele frequencies were: O: 0.640, A: 0.279. B: 0.081. Rhesus haplotype frequencies were: cde: 0.394, CDe: 0.431, cDE: 0.136, cDe: 0.021, and Cde: 0.011. D category VI represented 7%, of all weak D (formerly D(u)). The 95% confidence interval for the D category VI frequency was 1:3,600-1:11,200. Kell allele frequencies were: K: 0.040, and k: 0.960, 95% confidence intervals for rare phenotypes were: Oh: 1:88,000-1:1,760,000, p: 1:200,000-1:5,200,000. Rh(null): 1:180,000-1:10,300,000, and D-deletion: 1: 180,000-0.

Conclusions: We presented refined estimates of ABO, Rhesus D and Kell blood group frequencies and established reliable frequency estimates for Rhesus haplotype and some rare blood groups. The prevalence of D category VI was about 0.02%, which necessitates specific detection for Rh-D-negative transfusion therapy. A protocol is presented for Rh D typing in transfusion recipients. which obviates the need for an antiglobulin test.