DNA-BASED RHESUS TYPING - SIMULTANEOUS DETERMINATION OF RHC AND RHD STATUS USING THE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION

We describe a PCR-based method of performing RHD and C/c typing in a s ingle reaction. The method is based on an earlier observation of a pol ymorphism in intron 2 of both genes which, in addition to detecting th e RHD deletion responsible for most known D-negative phenotypes, is al so associated with C/c serological type. Using this assay, we typed 10 5 unrelated individuals from at least four different population groups and compared the results to those obtained using conventional serolog ical testing of red cells. An absolute correlation, with no exceptions , was seen. We also showed that the method has potential in the antena tal determination of RH type, as it was possible to type fetal trophob lasts recovered from the endocervical canal at 9 weeks pregnancy.