BLOOD GROUPING REAGENTS

Objective

The safety of blood transfusion in the European Community relies in part on the quality of the reagents used for ABO and Rh(D) typing and compatibility testing. Mistyping of donors or patients caused by defective substandard reagents can lead to clinically significant transfusion reactions, and in some cases, fatality. There are no European reference materials available for the control of the quality of the reagents in use.

The aim of this project is to prepare, with the collaboration of representatives from blood transfusion laboratories and reagent manufacturers operating within Europe, anti-A, anti-B and anti-D certified reference materials. The certification will be conducted according to agreed specifications and will include the evaluation, validation and stability study of the proposed materials. Similar work may then be envisaged for three additional standards (anti-IgG, papain and control weak anti-D and red cell panels for anti-D evaluation).

STATUS

Candidate pilot freeze-dried materials for anti-A, anti-B and anti-D are being tested and compared to existing FDA and WHO standards by the participants. The results are expected to be reported by mid 1992. Certification to be completed in 1993.

Programme(s)

• FP2-BCR 4 - Research and development programme (EEC) in the field of applied metrology and chemical analysis (Community Bureau of Reference - BCR), 1988-1992

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

International Blood Group Reference Laboratory

Address

BS Bristol
United Kingdom

Participants (22)

Aalborg Sygehus

Denmark

Address

Aalborg

Baxter/Dade

Switzerland

Address

Düdingen

Biotest Diagnostics

Germany

Address

Dreieich

Blood Transfusion Service Board

Ireland

Address

Dublin

Central Laboratory of the Netherlands

Netherlands

Address

Amsterdam

Croix Rouge de Belgique

Belgium

Address

Liège

Diagnostics Transfusion

France

Address

Les Ulis

East Anglia Blood Transfusion Centre

United Kingdom

Address

CB Cambridge

Finnish Red Cross Blood Transfusion

Finland

Address

Helsinki

Greek National Blood Transfusion Centre

Greece

Address

Athens

Institut Catala de la Salut

Spain

Address

Barcelona

Institut National de Transfusion Sanguine

France

Address

Paris

Institut für Transfusionmedizin

Germany

Address

Aachen

Instituto National de Sangue

Portugal

Address

Porto

National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC)

United Kingdom

Address

Blanche Lane South Mimms
EN6 3QG Potters Bar

Organon Teknica

Belgium

Address

Turnhout

Ortho Diagnostic Systems

Belgium

Address

Antwerp

Primo Centro Transfusioni

Italy

Address

20100 Milano

Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service

Luxembourg

Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service

United Kingdom

Address

Edinburgh

University Hospital Blood Bank

Sweden

Address

Lund

Zentrallaboratorium Blutspendedienst

Switzerland

Address

Bern