The Rhesus blood group system (ISBT 004) is the most complex and polymorphic blood group system; comprising 54 antigens numbered RH1 to RH61 with seven obsolete numbers. There are 18 phenotypes can be distinguished by using anti-D,C,c,E, and e. In addition, there are eight possible haplotype arrangements of Rh genes on short arm of chromosome 1 i.e. Dce, DCe, DcE, DCE, dec, dCe, dcE and dCE and results in 36 possible genotypes. 3 The KEL (Kell) system (ISBT 006) is currently known to contain 36 antigens. The K antigen is strongly immunogenic. Anti-K has been reported as the cause of hemolytic transfusion reactions, both immediate and delayed, and hemolytic disease of the newborn. 4 There is wide variation in the frequencies of ABO, Rh and Kell antigens throughout the world and there is no published data from Egypt about this issue. The aim of this study was to detect the frequencies of ABO, Rh and Kell blood group antigens among blood recipients from the inpatients and blood donors coming to Suez Canal University Hospital blood bank, Ismailia, and to compare it with that of other ethnic groups.
Subjects and methodsThis observational cross-sectional study was conducted at Suez Canal University Hospital blood bank, Ismailia, Egypt. Two milliliters whole blood samples were taken into ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) tubes from blood donors, and inpatients who were admitted