[The French reference laboratory for rare blood groups: activities in 2001]

The French reference laboratory for rare blood groups (CNRGS) is working for all participants of the transfusion chain: from the donors to the recipients; from the French Establishment for Blood to medical laboratories; from hospital to the haemovigilance network; from governmental agencies to European structures. This laboratory is in charge of: (1) studies of complex problems of immunohaematology; (2) studies of rare blood group phenotypes; (3) reagents quality controls; (4) production of biological standards; (5) specific specimen banks; (6) molecular studies of blood group antigens and antibodies involved; (8) panels of reference cells or DNA; (9) international exchanges.