The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today licensed 15 new blood typing tests that were previously unavailable in the United States.

These tests, known as blood grouping reagents, are used to determine the blood type of blood donors, an essential step in ensuring safe blood transfusion for patients. If mismatched blood is administered to a patient, it may cause a serious and potentially fatal reaction. To prevent such problems, people must receive compatible blood based on the results of blood typing tests.

The newly approved ALBAclone Blood Grouping Reagents include the common ABO and Rh tests, plus tests for rare blood types. The reagents are monoclonal antibodies, highly specific antibodies that ensure product uniformity and availability.

"The licensing of these reagents will provide more choice for blood establishments and transfusion services and may facilitate testing for rare blood groups," said Jesse L. Goodman, M.D., M.P.H., director of FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. "Licensure of these additional blood grouping reagents will help ensure a more stable supply of these tests, especially important in the event of a product shortage."