The international symposia on blood transfusion in Groningen have taken place without interruption since 1976. Each year Dr. Smit-Sibinga and his team have not only organized a meeting on timely topics in blood transfusion, but also succeeded in attracting prominent chairmen and speakers.The subject of the 24th Symposium was Molecular Biology in Blood Transfusion and it was chaired by Dr. Harvey G. Klein, National Institutes of Health, USA. In this book of proceedings an extraordinary range of subjects is covered, including diagnostic aspects, virology, quality control, cell and protein processing as well as a section on new horizons in clinical medicine.

Moderators and Speakers. Foreword. I. Diagnostic Aspects: Molecular Biology in Blood Transfusion - Introduction; H.G. Klein. Advances in blood Grouping - The Molecular Biology Approach; M.E. Reid. Molecular Biology in Parentage Testing and Forensic Medicine; R.W. Allen. Towards a Universla Blood Group - Manipulating the Molecular Structure of Blood Group Antigens; D.J. Anstee. HLA and HPA Typing - Advances in the Application of Molecular Biology; C.E.M. Voorter. Discussion. II. Virology and QC Aspects: Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) of Blood and Plasma Donors; M.P. Busch. Routine Experience and Future Developments in Virus NAT Application; J. Coste. Developments of New Diagnostic Tools: Lateral Flow; H.A. Fields. The Relevance of Platelet CD62 (P-selectin) Testing; A.D. Michelson. The Recipient Mechanisms of Platelet Alloimmunisation; J.W. Semple. Towards Standardisation of CD34+ Cell Enumeration in Stem Cell Harvesting and Processing; W.H. Dzik. Discussion. III. Developments in Processing of Cells and Therapeutic Proteins: Applications of Molecular Biology in Stem Cell Transplantation; C.E. van der Schoot. The In Vitro Effects of Cytokines on Expansion and Maturation of Megakaryocyte Progenitor Cells; A.L. Drayer. A Closed Culture System for the Ex Vivo Transduction and Expansion of Human T Lymphocytes; E. Robinet. Recombinant Products for Haemostasis - Structure/Function Relationship; S.V. Seremetis. Application of Molecular Biology in the Engineering of IV Immunoglobulins; D.L. Siegel. Discussion. IV. New Horizons in Clinical Medicine: Targeted Immunotherapy - The Use of Dendritic Cells in Tumour Vaccines; G.A.P. Hospers. Use of In Vitro and In Vivo Genetically Manipulated Cells for Immunotherapy of Cancer; M.S. Mincheff. Clinical Outcomes and Future Perspectives of Umbilical Cord Stem Cell Transplants; J.E. Wagner. Strategies and Future Developments in Applied Molecular Biology (Closing Remarks); H.G. Klein. Discussion. Index