On April 26, 2022, was published in the Official Gazette the Exempt Resolution N°357 dated March 1, 2022, issued by the Institute of Public Health, which approves the Recommendations for ABO Blood Classification, for the National Biomedical Reference Laboratory Department.

This document updates the recommendations for the ABO blood classification procedure, being directed to Blood Centers, Transfusion Medicine Units, Blood Banks and Clinical Laboratories.

These recommendations are intended to achieve a correct standardization of the ABO blood classification system, which aims to determine the presence of antigens and antibodies of this system in human blood.

Thus, the document provides definitions, indications for the development of blood classification studies, in terms of sample collection, reagents and techniques, as well as the procedure and results.

Additionally, a procedure for the resolution of discrepancies in ABO classification is indicated, to determine the causes of the differences and actions for their solution, as well as mechanisms for the solution of other discrepancies (globular-weak reactions with anti-A or anti-B, serum-weak reactions with RBC A1 or B, among others).

Should you require additional information on this matter, please contact Andrea Abascal (aabascal@jdf.cl), and/or Rocío Vergara (rvergara@jdf.cl).