OBJECTIVETo establish the controls for allele detection of blood groups s and Ok(a). A multiplex PCR method for the detection of three blood group antigens Fy(a), s and Ok(a) was developed and used to investigate the distribution of these blood groups in Chinese random blood donors.

METHODSPolymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based, gene site-directed mutagenesis (SDM) technique were used to make site-directed mutagenesis for the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites of the blood group alleles (the 153 C/T point mutation of the GYPB gene, and the 274 G/A point mutation of the BSG gene) as controls for allele detection. Sequence specific primers were designed according to the SNP sites of alleles of blood group antigens Fy(a), s and Ok(a). A multiplex PCR system was developed and 438 random donor samples were screened for the blood group antigens Fy(a), s and Ok(a).

RESULTSThe controls for alleles in blood groups s and Ok(a) were successfully made with the SDM technique, a multiplex PCR system was set up and successfully used to analyze the genotypes of three blood group antigens Fy(a), s and Ok(a). Two Fy(a-) samples were detected in the 438 samples, no s- and Ok(a-) sample was found.

CONCLUSIONThe PCR-based SDM technique can be used to obtain the unavailable controls in blood group genotyping. The multiplex PCR technique established in this study is an efficient genotyping method for blood groups Fy(a), s and Ok(a).