Anti- c(w): in a young female patient. A case report with review of literature and frequency of low incidence c(w) (rh8) antigen in north India.

If the patient has antibody to low incidence antigen providing compatible blood for transfusion is not a problem. It is however necessary to identify such antibodies to assess their potential to cause hemolytic transfusion reaction and hemolytic disease of newborn. We identified anti C(w) in patient's serum while investigating the cause of incompatible cross match in a female thalassemia patient. Anti C(w) is an antibody against C(w) (Rh8) antigen, which is a low incidence antigen of Rh system. This case also prompted us to study frequency of C(w) antigen in our donor population as the frequency of C(w) antigens in our population is not reported. Frequency of C(w) antigens in north Indian donors was found to be 1.2 %.