Abstract: Objective To study the RhCE phenotype and RHD genotype of blood donors with weak D phenotype in Shenzhen. Methods Blood samples were collected from 38 donors. The D blood group of these samples was tested using anti-D monoclonal IgM/IgG blood identification reagent. The CE phenotype was identified using monoclonal anti-C, anti-c, anti-E, and anti-e. The 10 exons of RHD gene were analyzed by PCR-SSP. The full length coding region of RHD gene was sequenced if necessary. The correlation between RhCE phenotype and RHD genotype was analyzed. Results Serology results showed that the 38 donors were D variant. In 38 donors, eight RHD alleles have been reported, RHD*weak partial 15(15/38), RHD*DEL1(11/38), RHD*DVI.3(5/38), RHD*weak D type 61(1/38), RHD*weak D type 95(1/38), RHD*DCC(1/38), RHD*DFR1(1/38), RHD*weak D type 50(1/38), RHD*weak partial 15/RHD*DEL1(1/38) were identified. Additionally, RHD*weak D type 50 was not been reported in the Chinese Han individual. Also, one novel RHD*IVS9-1C(c.1228-1G>C) allele were identified. The nucleotide sequence data of the new RHD allele was submitted to GenBank, and was assigned accession number MT755965. The correlation coefficient between RHD*weak partial 15 and RhE antigen was 0.727 (P<0.01). The correlation coefficient between RHD*DEL1 and RhC antigen was 0.645 (P<0.01). Conclusion The molecular background of weak D in Shenzhen is complicated, which mainly includes RHD* Weak Partial 15, RHD*DEL1, RHD*DVI.3, and other rare genotypes. RHD* Weak Partial 15 was associated with RhE antigen and RHD*DEL1 was associated with RhC antigen.

Key words: Rhesus blood group, RHD genotype, D variant, Correlations