CClinicalTrials.gg
Status unknownNCT02534519Blood GenomeUpdated Aug 27, 2015

Whole Genome Sequencing for Blood Group Genotyping and Definition as Exemplified on U- and St(a)+.

An observational study in Genetic Blood Group (bg) Polymorphism in U Negativity and St(a) of MNSs, sponsored by Blood Donation Service Zurich, SRC. Status unknown at 1 site in Switzerland. Open to participants aged 1 Year to 70 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2015-08-27.

Sponsored by Blood Donation Service Zurich, SRC · Observational

The sponsor has not verified this record recently (last verified Aug 2015), so the status shown — last known as Recruiting — may be out of date.
Study type
Observational
Model
Case-control
Enrollment
8
Ages
1 Year to 70 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

No health condition(s) are studied. Genetic background of blood groups is studied. U- and Stones(a)+ ("Caucasian type") are used as proof-of-principle samples. Disease associations of all blood group genes investigated are very rare, e.g. \< 1 among 1'000 Swiss individuals (see table 1), and are not to be expected in the course of this study.

Genomic DNA of 2 U- samples were both provided as blinded reference material from New York and Vienna blood centres, respectively. Both donors are lost for follow up, and although there is no documented evidence for refusal of the respective donors to use their material in research projects, samples still lack informed consent.

Read the detailed description

All 34 human blood group systems have at least two antithetical antigens and are of potential relevance during pregnancy and transfusion. Fortunately for every day routine practice, immunizations to foreign antigens are rare. Still, incompatibilities may occur in all blood group systems and will then require typing for the respective blood group antigens.

Blood genotyping evolved as the method of choice, in cases when typing reagents are commercially unavailable, or blood is inaccessible (foetus). In databases, most entries of blood group genes lack representative polymorphism (e.g. number of alleles). Moreover, many blood group antigens are insufficiently described in their intronic and inter-genetic sequences. This is true for results of unequal crossing-overs, gene-conversions and large insertions/deletions between highly homologous genes, especially within the blood group systems of Rhesus, e.g. RhD/RhCE and MN/Ss, respectively. Only Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) allows for resolution of both problems: it delivers the whole blood group genome of an individual, and simultaneously recognizes new blood group alleles, or haplotypes. This request for ethical approval wants to test this assumption.

The antigenic determinants U- and Stones(a)+ of the blood group system MNSs still lack full genetic description and will serve as challenging examples for the description of new alleles (haplotypes) caused by large ins/del mutations of the two highly homologous genes GYPA and B. Genomic DNA of 2 U- samples were both provided as blinded reference material from New York and Vienna blood centres, respectively. Both donors are lost for follow up, and although there is no documented evidence for refusal of the respective donors to use their material in research projects, samples still lack informed consent. Additional reference samples (n max=4), and samples with suspected Stones(a)+ (n max=4) will be recruited from Zurich blood donors with informed consent, only.

02

Conditions studied

  • Genetic Blood Group (bg) Polymorphism in U Negativity and St(a) of MNSs
03

In context

Lead sponsor

This is the only study on the registry with Blood Donation Service Zurich, SRC as lead sponsor.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
1 Year to 70 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes
Sampling method
Probability sample

Study population

Genomic DNA of 2 U- samples were both provided as blinded reference material from New York and Vienna blood centres, respectively. Both donors are lost for follow up, and although there is no documented evidence for refusal of the respective donors to use their material in research projects, samples still lack informed consent. Additional reference samples (n max=4), and samples with suspected Stones(a)+ (n max=4) will be recruited from Zurich blood donors with informed consent, only

Inclusion criteria

  • Existing biomaterial (gDNA), or
  • Existing health related data for blood group U- (n max=2) and eligible for (venous) blood sampling of 20 mL, or
  • Existing blood group pheno- and genotyping data indicating St(a)+ and eligible for (venous) blood sampling of 20 mL (n max=2), or
  • Adequate blood group profile serving as reference (n max =4 \& n max =4'000) and eligible for (venous) blood sampling of 20 mL.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Ineligible for venous blood sampling of approx. 20 mL.
05

Study design

Observational model
Case-control
Enrollment
8 participants (estimated)
Target follow-up
1 Day
Patient registry
Yes
Biospecimen retention
Samples with dna

Groups and cohorts

  • people negative in bg MNSs antigen U

    Blood group (bg) system MNSs. Individuals with phenotype "U-". Homo- and heterozygous individuals may be considered.

    Other: Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS)

  • people positive in bg MNSs antigen St(a)

    Blood group (bg) system MNSs. Individuals with phenotype "St(a)+". Homo- and heterozygous individuals may be considered.

    Other: Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS)

Interventions

  • OtherWhole Genome Sequencing (WGS)

    There will be no interventions needed other than blood sampling (20 mL blood) in the course of routine blood donation (450 mL blood) for 8 out of 10 individuals planned to be included as specimen, or reference samples in the study.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Whole Genome Sequencing for the definition of genetic background for blood group antigens U-, St(a)+

    During a 2 year time-period, whole genome sequencing data generation and analysis will be used for the analysis and description of the genetic background for the blood group antigens U negativity, and for St(a).

    Time frame: 2 year period

07

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • Blutpende Zürich, Dienstleistungszentrum
    Schlieren, Zürich 8952, Switzerland
    Recruiting
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Aug 27, 2015, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02534519
Lead sponsor
Blood Donation Service Zurich, SRC
Responsible party
Christoph Gassner (Priv. Doz. Mag. Dr. rer. nat. Christoph Gassner, Blood Donation Service Zurich, SRC) — Principal investigator
First posted
Aug 27, 2015
Start date
Jul 2015
Primary completion
Jun 2016 (estimated)
Completion
Jun 2018 (estimated)
Last update
Aug 27, 2015

Study contacts

Christoph Gassner, PhD
Contact
c.gassner@zhbsd.ch
+41 58 272 5195
Christoph Gassner, PhD
principal investigator · Blutspende Zürich, Dienstleistungszentrum

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is status unknown, as verified in Aug 2015. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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