Ireland's population is increasing and becoming more diverse, this has potential implications for the Irish Blood Transfusion Service to provide ‘best-matched’ blood for the optimal care of patients

Aims

• To determine the distribution of ABO, RH and other clinically significant blood group antigen systems (BGSs) in Irish donors
• To provide real-time donor antigen information
• To compare donor antigen profiles with those required for transfusion in various patient groups

Key-Findings

• 14.24% of the first-time donors were born outside Ireland. Significant differences were detected in the ABO and Rh phenotype distribution between Irish born donors and those born outside Ireland.
  • A snapshot of ABO, RH, and JK blood group systems in modern Ireland. Anne Browne, Anthony Kinsella, Moira Keogh, Kieran Morris, Stephen Field. Health Sci Rep. 2021 Jun 12;4(2):e292.

• The genotype at the ABO blood group locus plays a critical role in modulating the platelet expresser phenotype, which may influence primary haemostasis though several different pathways.
  • Expresser phenotype determines ABO(H) blood group antigen loading on platelets and von Willebrand factor. Diarmaid O'Donghaile, Vincent Jenkins, Rachel McGrath, Lisa Preston, Stephen Field, Soracha Ward, Jamie M O'Sullivan, James S O'Donnell. Sci Rep. 2020 Oct 27;10(1):18366.

On-Going Research

• Alloimmunisation in multi-transfused high-risk populations
• Enhanced donor antigen matching and risk of alloimmunisation