First example of Rh:-32,-46 red cell phenotype.

The red cells of a white male blood donor typed as Rh:-1, -2, -3,w4,w5,6,-17,w19,-31,-32,-34, and -46. Although the donor has no history of transfusion, his serum contains an alloantibody that is weakly reactive with most red blood cells (RBCs) tested. Only Rhnull and D-- RBCs are nonreactive. Reactivity is enhanced with ficin- or papain-treated RBCs and is unaffected by AET or DTT treatment of the RBCs. Previously described Rh:-46 RBCs have been of deletion types D--, D, and Rhnull, or Rh:32. In three multitransfused patients, the Rh46 antigen was temporarily suppressed and the phenotype eventually reverted to normal. This is the first report of RBCs of the Rh:-32,-46 phenotype that are not of a rare Rh deletion or Rhnull type. In addition, the Rh:w5,w19,-31,-34 phenotype is rarely found in whites.