A Rare Cohort of Two Rhnull Individuals.

OBJECTIVE

A 77 year old female was admitted with a subdural hematoma requiring 1 unit of apheresis platelets. She was a study subject in the 1960s and was found to be Rhnull, along with another individual who previously served as a directed donor for her.

METHODS

Serologic testing performed by the immunohematology reference laboratory (IRL) confirmed that the patient was Rhnull and expressed anti-Rh29 antibodies. While searching for red blood cells (RBCs) for possible transfusion, it was discovered that the individual from the original study had recently donated an autologous unit.

RESULTS

The IRL discovered that the donor's antigen typing was r'r'. Testing had been performed using a molecular human erythrocyte antigen BeadChip (HBC). Due to the discrepancy between current and historical testing results, a donor segment was thawed and by tube testing confirmed to be Rhnull. A limitation of HBC is that many null phenotypes will be missed.

CONCLUSION

This case demonstrated that Rhnull evaluation of the donor required both serological and molecular methods.