Automated blood group serology.

Although automation was introduced into biochemistry in 1957 (Skeggs, 1957), it was not until 1963 that McNeil, Helrick, and Ferrari (1963) first described a mechanized technique forABO grouping. This was followed a few months later by a method employing the AutoAnalyzer continuous flow principle by which up to 40 samples per hour could be both ABO and Rh (D) grouped (Sturgeon, Cedergren, and McQuiston, 1963). During the succeeding six years developments have been such that blood samples can now be ABO grouped by machine, Rh typed, screened for irregular blood group antibodies, and some of the subtypes determined at a rate of one sample per 30 seconds, or 120 samples per hour. This is accomplished by a multichannel machine. There is also available a single-channel AutoAnalyzer for use in screening and quantitation.