Automation in blood banking

Automation is just beginning to be introduced into immunohematology. Only two methods of automation are in use at this time. These are the colorimeter recorder method and the filter paper method. Each has certain advantages and disadvantages. Both have the common disadvantage of poor sample identification which can negate all of the results. The methods themselves are as sensitive as, or more sensitive than, the manual methods that they replace, and will soon become established techniques.