Background and objectives:
The International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) Working Party
for Red Cell Immunogenetics and Blood Group Terminology meets in association
with the ISBT congress and has met three times since the last report: at the
international meetings held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, September 2016
and Toronto, Canada, June 2018; and at a regional congress in Copenhagen,
Denmark, June 2017 for an interim session.
Methods:
As in previous meetings, matters pertaining to blood group antigen
nomenclature and classification were discussed. New blood group antigens
were approved and named according to the serologic and molecular evidence
presented.
Results and conclusions:
Fifteen new blood group antigens were added to eight blood group
systems. One antigen was made obsolete based on additional data.
Consequently, the current total of blood group antigens recognised by the
ISBT is 360, of which 322 are clustered within 36 blood groups systems. The
remaining 38 antigens are currently unassigned to a known system. Clinically
significant blood group antigens continue to be discovered, through
serology/sequencing and/or recombinant or genomic technologies.
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