Serological findings and efficiency of DNA profiling in transfused patients and their significance for identity and paternity tests

Abstract

The problems of testing patients or the deceased using classical blood group systems for identity or paternity purposes after multiple transfusions are well known. In a paternity case where the putative father received multiple transfusions it was possible to determine some classical blood group systems. The investigation showed no incompatibility between the putative father and the child and led to a probability of paternity of 72.33%. Using the DNA technique (single locus probes) it could be demonstrated that the DNA patterns were not influenced by the transfusion and the possibility of paternity reached 99.9%. For a further consideration of this problem classical blood group systems and DNA systems were investigated in 12 patients before and after multiple transfusions. It was possible to determine the changes due to transfusion in the classical systems but changes in the DNA pattern were not observed.

Short tandem repeat (STRs) and sex specific Amelogenin analysis of blood samples from neurosurgical female transfused patients

“…These facts supports our earlier findings that the DNA patterns generated by RFLP and PCR-based HLA-DQA1 and polymarker from recipients are not influenced by blood transfusion using whole blood 10 and packed red blood cell containing few leukocytes. 4,[7][8][9] Our results indicate that the male donorÕs DNA is not detectable even on using sensitive primer for STRs and Y-chromosome microsatellite marker in a transfused female. On the other hand Sahota et al 12 reported detection of 0.1% of male DNA against a background of female DNA using primers for the Ychromosome microsatellite marker, but the sensitivity increased up to 0.0001% using nested primers and similarly D1S80 minisatellite locus has been reported as a useful marker for detecting microchimerism with a sensitivity of 0.1%.…”

“…11,12 Already blood transfusion has featured in a few cases concerned with forensic and paternity identification. [5][6][7] Information regarding typing of DNA of recipient blood, after unfiltered whole blood transfusion is negligible. The use of DNA evidence in a court of law has increased since its origin.…”

“…From the standpoint of forensic science it is notable that serologic typing and interpretation of autologous blood group phenotypes and allozymes, conventional red blood cell antigen typing by agglutination or isozyme typing after multiple transfusions could be misleading for identification in such cases. [5][6][7] Presently DNA analysis has become routine in laboratories conducting identity and paternity testing, while serological methods are falling into disuse. Therefore, the potential problem arising due to blood transfusion has led to a growing interest in typing the DNA from post-transfusion blood samples.…”

Can post-mortem blood be used for DNA profiling after peri-mortem blood transfusion?

“…A review of the literature identifies that previous authors have shown that blood transfusion does not affect the DNA profiling of living or dead individuals from blood. A summary of the literature is presented in Table 1 [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8].…”