The identification of 12 novel RHD alleles represents a significant addition to the known repertoire of unusual RHD variants and, at the same time, serves to deepen our understanding of the molecular basis of weak and partial D. The accurate molecular typing of RHD alleles would allow to reduce the alloimmunization risk.

This study further increased the already large repertoire of RHD allelic variants. Whereas most of the newly found variants are putative weak or partial D alleles, most of the complex alleles are readily understandable in the present phylogenetic model of RHD.