182 LETTERS TRANSFUSION

Vol. 33, NO. 2-1993

References

1. McDonagh AF, Lightner DA. Like a shrivelled blood orange. Bi- lirubin, jaundice, and phototherapy. Pediatrics 1985;75:443-55.

2. Ennever IF, McDonagh AF, Speck WT. Phototherapy for neonatal jaundice. Optimal wavelengths of light. J Pediatr 1983;103:295-9.

More about use of the term Drb

Editor’s Note: In the June 1992 issue of TRANSFUSION, Daniels’ questioned the advisability of assigning the term Drb to a molecular structure, recognized via a DNA-based method, that has not been shown to be immunogenic. In a reply, Lublin and Telen2 discussed both the use of Drb to describe an antigen and the use of D P to describe an allele of decay-accelerating factor (DAF). The letter printed below again addresses this question; this time the use of genetic terms is considered.

References 1. Daniels G. What is a blood group antigen? (letter). Transfusion

2. Lublin DM, Telen MJ. What is a blood group antigen? (reply to 199232: 492-3.

letter). Transfusion 1992;32:493.

To the Editor: Not only is the use of the symbol Drb before the identi-

fication of a specific antibody’ “premature,” it is misleading for immunohematologists and meaningless to molecular biol- ogists. As Lublin and TelenZ state, “[Tlhe correct path is for science to drive nomenclature.” We would point out that an accurately descriptive system of nomenclature has already been devised for the important type of observation made by these authors:’ DAF*16SS, in the homozygous or heterozygous state, apparently accounts for the Dr(a + ) red cell antigen phenotype, and DAF*165L, in the homozygous state, accounts for the Dr(a - ) phenotype. This terminology would be equally com- prehensible to immunohematologists and molecular biologists and is consistent with the Guidelines for Human Gene Nomenclat~re.~

MARION LEWIS, DSc, FCCMG Past Chairman, ISBT Working P a m on

Terminology for Red Cell Surface Antigens Departments of Pediatrics and Human Genetics

University of Manitoba PHYLLIS J. MCALPINE, PHD, FCCMG

Genome Data Base Nomenclature Departments of Human Genetics and Pediatrics

University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba

Canada

References 1. Lewis M, Anstee DJ, Bird GW, et al. Blood group terminology

1990: from the ISBT Working Party on Terminology for Red Cell Surface Antigens. Vox Sang 1990;58:152-69.

2. Lublin DM, Telen MJ. What is a blood group antigen? (letter). Transfusion 1992;32:493.

3. Lublin DM, Thompson ES, Green AM, Levene C, Telen MJ. Dr(a - ) polymorphism of decay accelerating factor: biochemical, functional and molecular characterization and production of allele specific transfectants. J Clin Invest 1991;87:1945-52.

4. Shows TB, McAlpine PJ, Boucheix C, et al. An International Sys- tem for Human Gene Nomenclature (ISGN, 1987). Cytogcnet Cell Genet 1987;46:11-28.

The above letter *as sent to Doctors Lublin and Telen, who ogered the following reply.

Our previous letter’ presented our thoughts on use of the symbol D P for this new allele of DAF,2 which will not be repeated here. Replying to the direct statements in the letter of Lewis and McAlpine,’ we aver that the use of the symbol DP will not be misleading for immunohematologists once they accept DNA-based methodologies for allele identification. TO molecular biologists, the .symbol D P would be as justified and meaningful as the already accepted symbol DP.

The nomenclature for red cell membrane proteins should not be held hostage to its historical roots in serology, but must incorporate the revolution in molecular biology. The nomen- clature for factors of the HLA system underwent this transfor- mation during the 1980s, and immunohematologists must follow this path for red cells during the 1990s. The World Health Organization Nomenclature Committee for factors of the HLA system has established conditions for acceptance of new allele seq~ences .~ In fact, the HLA nomenclature rules state that “serological specificities should be named only if they identify a product with a recognized allele DNA sequence.”4 Although molecular analysis of red cell antigens has not yet matched the level found in the HLA system, we must continue to move in that direction and to incorporate the strengths of both serologic and molecular biologic studies into immunohematology.

DOUGLAS M. LUBLIN, MD, PHD Division of Laboratory Medicine

Departments of Pathology and Medicine Box 81 18

Washington University School of Medicine 660 South Euclid Avenue

St. Louis, MO 63110 MARILYN J. TELEN, MD

Division of HematologylOncology Department of Medicine

Duke Universip Medical Center Durham, NC 27710

References 1. Lublin DM, Telen MJ. What is a blood group antigen? (letter).

Transfusion 1992;32:493. 2. Lublin DM, Thompson ES, Green AM, Levene C, Tclen MJ. Dr(a - )

polymorphism of decay accelerating factor: biochemical, functional and molecular characterization and production of allele specific transfectants. J Clin Invest 1991;87:1945-52.

3. Lewis M, McAlpine PJ. More about use of the term Drb. (letter). Transfusion 1993;33:182.

4. Bodmer JG, Marsh SGE, Albert ED, et al. Nomenclature for fac- tors of the HLA system, 1991. Hum lmmunol (In press).

Quality control of white cell-reduced red cells- enough is enough

To the Editor: Should we be expected to perform quality control on medical

devices licensed by the United States Food and Drug Admin- istration (FDA)? Presumably, manufacturers go through a rig- orous process before the FDA gives its stamp of approval to a medical device. FDA approval assures the consumer that the