title: ABO and Rh blood type errors on Air Force identification cards.
abstract: Our study is intended to determine if the blood types recorded on identification cards carried by U.S. Air Force personnel contain significant errors. We studied 262 active duty Air Force personnel. Eleven errors in blood type information were identified, including seven Rh type errors and six ABO typing errors. Such errors may arise when self-reporting of blood type is relied upon to create identification cards. The significance of these findings for wartime transfusion practices is discussed in light of current United States and NATO policy. Suggestions to reduce the error rate are offered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland AFB, TX 78236, USA.
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Ensign
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Dougherty
authors.forename: I N
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Bowlus
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Konecki
mesh_terms: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D001788:Blood Grouping and Crossmatching; D005260:Female; D005568:Forms and Records Control; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System
chemical_list: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System