Transfusion and transplantation science Fundamentals of biomedical science Series

Biomedical scientists are the foundation of modern healthcare, from cancer screening to diagnosing HIV, from blood transfusion for surgery to food poisoning and infection control. Without biomedical scientists, the diagnosis of disease, the evaluation of the effectiveness of treatment, and research into the causes and cures of disease would not be possible. The Fundamentals of Biomedical Science series is written to reflect the challenges of practicing biomedical science today. It draws together essential basic science with insights into laboratory practice to show how an understanding of the biology of disease is coupled to the analytical approaches that lead to diagnosis. Assuming only a minimum of prior knowledge, the series reviews the full range of disciplines to which a Biomedical Scientist may be exposed - from microbiology to cytopathology to transfusion science. Alongside volumes exploring specific biomedical themes and related laboratory diagnosis, an overarching Biomedical Science Practice volume gives a grounding in the professional and experimental skills with which any Biomedical Scientist must be equipped.

1. Basic Immunology. 2. Human Erythrocyte Antigens: Blood groups. 3. Donors and Donations: Collection and processing. 4. Blood Donation Testing. 5. Clinical Use of Blood Components. 6. Blood Transfusion: Compatibility testing and adverse effects. 7. Immune Red Cell Destruction. 8. Human Leucocyte Antigens [HLA] and their Clinical Significance. 9. Human Platelet Antigens [HPA], Human Neutrophile Antigens [HNA], and their Clinical Significance. 10. Stem Cell Banking. 11. Tissue and Bone Banking. 12. Quality Issues.

Robin Knight is former Head of the National Blood Service's Red Cell Immunohaematology division. During his 44 years of experience in clinical laboratories, 35 have largely been in blood transfusion in both hospitals, large and small, and the National Blood Service. For many years Robin was actively engaged in lecturing on HNC, BSc and MSc courses at the University of Westminster. Robin was until recently the Chief Examiner in Transfusion Science for the Institute of Biomedical Science, and initiated the British Blood Transfusion Society's Specialist Certificate Examination. He has been the author or co-author of 14 papers published in peer reviewed journals, and is the co-author of the BBTS publication 'Introduction to blood transfusion science and blood bank practice' which is now in its 5th edition, and is the key book for trainee scientists in transfusion in the UK. He has also co-authored two World Health Organisation [WHO] guidelines and a section of their Safe Blood Distance Learning materials. Robin is still actively involved, as a specialist advisor, with a number of Blood Transfusion Services in Africa.