Phenotypic and Genotypic Association of the Duffy Blood Group Antigens (Fya, Fyb) in Healthy Blood Donors

To determine the Duffy blood group antigens (Fya, Fyb) phenotypic and genotypic distribution among blood donors reporting in a tertiary care transfusion centre in the northern region of Pakistan. A cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Immunohaematology and Molecular Biology, Armed Forces Institute of Transfusion, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from August 2023 to March 2024. The total number of blood donors recruited was 287, using the WHO sample size calculator. ABO, Rhesus (Rh), and Duffy blood group phenotyping were performed using commercially available antisera. Genotyping of the Duffy blood group was carried out using polymerase chain reaction specific sequence of primers (PCR-SSP). Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22 was used to analyse the data. For association analysis, the Chi-square test was used. The most common phenotype observed was (a+ b-), found in 53.3% of all Duffy phenotypes, followed by a+ b+ (31.7%), a- b+ (13.2%), and a- b- (1.7%). The frequency of Duffy genotypes showed a non-significant correlation with Duffy phenotypes. In the catchment area of the studied centre in Northern Pakistan, the phenotypic frequency of (a+ b-) is the highest of all Duffy phenotypes i.e., (53.3%), followed by a+ b+, a- b+, and a- b-, respectively. Serological and PCR-SSP methods were found to be in complete agreement. PCR could serve as an alternative approach for identifying the Duffy blood group, especially in individuals with low antigen expression. Duffy blood group, Alloimmunisation, Genotype, Phenotype, Transfusion.