Distribution of Kell antigens K, k, Kpa, and Kpb among blood donors in Jeddah city of Western Saudi Arabia

CONTEXT: Kell blood group system is considered as the third clinically significant blood group in blood transfusion due to the highly immunogenetic of their antigens. No data are available regarding the frequencies of the Kell blood group antigens in Jeddah city. Knowledge of the antigen and phenotype frequencies is crucial to assess the risk of alloimmunization and to guide the probability of finding antigen-negative donor blood, which can be useful when blood transfusion is required for a patient who has multiple red cell alloantibodies. AIMS: The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of Kell blood group: K, k, Kp(a), and Kp(b) antigens and phenotypes among blood donors in Jeddah city, western Saudi Arabia, to improve the transfusion services in the area. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Seven hundred and fifty-eight blood samples from blood donors were used in the study. The samples were collected from different national blood bank centers in Jeddah city hospitals. Kell antigens were typed through gel card method using commercial antisera. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The gathered data were analyzed using the SPSS program. Frequency and crosstab tests were completed to achieve the objectives of the current study. RESULTS: The most frequent Kell phenotype in this study was Kp((a-b+)), followed by K-k+, K+k+, and then Kp((a+b+)), and the less frequent was K+k-. K-k- and Kp((a+b-)) phenotypes were not observed in studied donors. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first report to determine the frequency of Kell antigens and phenotypes among blood donors in Jeddah city. These results appear to be useful in providing better care for patients by implementing tests that should become a routine in blood banks. The Kell system is very important in transfusion medicine practice.