Background: Sub-Saharan African countries face the challenge of immunological
transfusion safety that puts many patients at risk of post-transfusion hemolytic reactions.
This is because pre-transfusion testing for irregular/unexpected antibodies that
helps to prevent these risks are neither universally available nor accessible. The aim
of our study was to determine the prevalence of red blood cell alloantibodies and
their specificity in patients transfused in Burkina Faso.
Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study including patients who had
received at least one blood transfusion. Indirect antiglobulin testing using LISSenhanced
medium gel column agglutination technique was used for antibodies screening
and identification. Enzymatic technique with papain-treated red cell reagent was
performed in attempt to solve some difficulties if necessary as well as auto-control test
and RH-KEL phenotyping when possible to help antibodies identification.
Results: A total of 832 patients were included, 51.6% of whom were female, and the
median (IQR) age was 34 (20–49) years. Of these, 43.7% had chronic kidney disease
and 20.4% were sickle cell patients. The median (IQR) number of immunisation episodes
(blood transfusion and pregnancies) was 3 (2–6) with the median (IQR) number
of blood units received per patient of 2 (1–5). The proportion of patients with RBCs
antibodies was 6.4% (53/832), with mainly anti-Rh antibodies. A combination of 2 antibodies
was found in 7 patients and a combination of 3 antibodies in one patient. Antibodies
of unknown specificity (AUS) were encountered in 29%. Independent factors
associated with antibody positivity were age (OR = 1.02; p = 0.026), sickle cell disease
(OR = 3.23; p = 0.017) and receiving more than 10 blood units (OR = 7.33; p = 0.01).
Conclusion: In this study, the proportion of patients with RBC antibodies was quite
similar to that observed in Sub-Saharan African countries. However, the availability
and accessibility of pre-transfusion compatibility tests as well as the quality of
methods used should be improved to ensure the safety of blood transfusions.

alloantibodies, antibodies, red blood cells, transfusion