Report on External Proficiency Testing for the ABO and D Blood Group Typing Tests in Blood Centers (2014)

Background: The Korean Blood Safety Commission has implemented external proficiency testing (PT) for blood grouping test (BGT) since 2011. We analyzed the results of 2015 PT for BGT including hemagglutination grade for ABO BGT to help in planning the future PT for BGT and improving the quality of blood centers (BC). Methods: Two kinds of whole blood survey samples composed of three panels for ABO grouping and three panels for D typing were sent to 68 institutes. Evaluation criteria for BGT were as follows: u0027Goodu0027 for the answers matched with intended results, u0027Acceptableu0027 for the consensus answers other than that of u0027Goodu0027, u0027Unacceptableu0027 for the answers other than those of u0027Good+acceptableu0027 as correct answers. Results: The answer rates of u0027Unacceptableu0027 for ABO BGT were 0% for A(A1) antigen (Ag), 1.5% for B Ag, and 1.5% for ABW (A2BW) Ag, 15% of blood centers were graded as u0027Acceptableu0027 for ABW (A2BW) Ag because they could not detect BW Ag. All answers for D typing were u0027Goodu0027 except one institute reported wrong switched results as D positive and D negative. Hemagglutination grade for ABO BGT varied from 77.2%∼100% depending on blood groups and laboratories. Conclusion: Because some hospital BC could not detect BW Ag and there was a clerical error, continuous education should be required, and comparison of hemagglutination grade for ABO BGT of each BC would be helpful in improving quality of BC. (Korean J Blood Transfus 2016;27:68-78)