Transfusion medicine has witnessed an increase in the application of blood group genetics. A comprehensive analysis of the molecular basis for blood group expression has been ongoing for the past 10 years. The analysis will continue to unravel the relationship between blood group al-leles and antigens. Once all ethnicities are thoroughly evaluated, transfusion medicine will be able to apply molecular testing to all transfusion recipients. The reviews in this issue of Transfusion and Apheresis Science summarize applications of red cell genotyping in the blood donor, transfusion recipient, and perinatal settings. Already, red cell genotyping has been adopted in the immunohematol-ogy reference laboratory, with standards set and laboratory accreditation planned for the near future. Various applications of molecular biology testing have provided efficiencies in banking donor blood, aided in the identification of antibodies, and modified the approach to diagnosis and treatment. The authors of these publications hope that you find their reviews both insightful and useful.
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