Automated determination of ABO/Rh in microplates

A semi-automated system for determining the ABO group and Rh type of blood samples has been developed using a commercially available automated microplate (ELISA) reader and a microcomputer. Optimization of serologic, measurement and interpretation parameters was accomplished without significantly changing an existing manual procedure. The first pass noninterpretation rate of this system in the laboratory prior to field trials is 7.1%. A commercial system of this type should be cost-effective as a primary instrument for small to medium sized blood centers and transfusion services.