Analysis of ABO allelic enhancement phenomenon in 20 cases with ABO*AW.37 allele
Objective To investigate the serological and molecular characteristics of twenty blood samples carrying ABO∗AW.37 allele and to analyze ABO allelic enhancement.Methods The ABO phenotype of the twenty samples was de-termined by serological methods and the genotype of 1-7 ABO exons was analyzed by Sanger sequencing.Results Sequen-cing analysis showed that all twenty samples contained a c.940A>G(p.Lys314Glu)mutation of A allele,which was defined as ABO∗AW.37.When ABO∗AW.37 and B alleles were inherited simultaneously in 9 cases,in forward typing anti-A anti-bodies all agglutinated and the serological phenotype was Aw B.Among the 11 cases with ABO∗AW.37 and O alleles inherited simultaneously,there was no agglutination of anti-A in forward typing.For absorption and elution tests,5 cases were weakly positive and the serological phenotype was Ael,while 6 cases were negative for absorption and elution tests and the serologi-cal phenotype was O type.Conclusion Allelic enhancement occured when both ABO∗AW.37 allele and B allele were in-herited simultaneously.When ABO∗ AW.37 was inherited simultaneously with O allele,the serological phenotype was Aelor O type and attention should be paid to blood type identification.