Two examples of an inseparable antibody that reacts equally well with D-W+and Rh32+ red blood cells

Background and Objectives: Anti-D-W is a rare specificity that detects an a ntigen on D-Va red blood cells (RBCs). Some anti-D-W contain an inseparable component that cross-reacts weakly with RBCs expressing the low-incidence Rh antigen Rh32. RH32 is expressed by RBCs with either the (R) double over bar(N) the DBT phenotype. Case Report: We describe here an antibody found i n the serum of 2 patients that reacts equally well with RBCs possessing eit her D-Va, (R) double over bar(N), or DBT phenotypes. The reactivity for D-W and Rh32 antigens could not be separated by adsorption onto and elution fr om D-W+Rh32- or from D-W-Rh32+ RBCs. Conclusions: We suggest that amino aci ds encoded by nucleotides at the junction of exon 4 of RHD to exon 5 of RHC E may induce a conformation that is recognized by these equally reactive in separable antibodies. Until such time that the epitope recognized by these antibodies is defined, we recommend use of the descriptive name anti-D-W/Rh 32.