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

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.