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Blood Group Terminology 1995: ISBT Working Party on Terminology for Red Cell Surface Antigens
Author(s) -
Daniels G. L.,
Anstee D. J.,
Cartron J. P.,
Dahr W.,
Jørgensen J.,
Kornstad L.,
Levene C.,
LomasFrancis C.,
Lubenko A.,
Mallory D.,
Moulds J. J.,
Okubo Y.,
Overbeeke M.,
Reid M. E.,
Rouger P.,
Seidl S.,
Sistonen P.,
Wendel S.,
Woodfield G.,
Zelinski T.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
vox sanguinis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.68
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1423-0410
pISSN - 0042-9007
DOI - 10.1111/j.1423-0410.1995.tb02611.x
Subject(s) - terminology , blood transfusion , medicine , library science , surgery , computer science , philosophy , linguistics
Since the first human blood groups were discovered almost a century ago, many hundreds of new red cell antigens have been identified. Because of the extended time period over which these antigens were discovered, a variety of different terminologies has been introduced. In some cases single capital letters were used (A, B, M, K), in some superscripts distinguished allelic products (Fy’, Fyh), and in some a numerical notation was introduced (Fy3). Some antigens were given different names in different laboratories, based on alternative genetic theories (D and Rho). In 1980 the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) established a Working Party to devise a genetically based numerical terminology for red cell surface antigens. In 1990 the Working Party published a monograph describing a numerical terminology for 242 red cell antigens [I], and brief updatings followed in 1991 [2] and 1993 [3]. In the 6 years since the 1990 report many amendments to the classification have been necessary: 18 new antigens have been identified and 6 others declared obsolete due to lack of suitable reagents; four new systems have been created (all from existing collections); the Auberger antigens joined the Lutheran system; the Gregory antigens and Jo” joined the Dombrock system; the Wright antigens joined the Diego system. Furthermore, since, 1990, many of the blood group genes have been isolated: of the genes controlling the 23 systems, only four (PI, JK, SC, DO) remain to be cloned. The purpose of this monograph is to describe the ISBT terminology for red cell surface antigens and to tabulate the complete 1995 version of the classification. In addition, an alternative ‘popular’ terminology is suggested in an attempt to reduce the number of different names used in publications on red cell antigens. Much of the information provided in the 1990 monograph [l] is reiterated here so that referral back will not generally be required, but only references after 1990 are provided.