Blood group genotyping (BGG) has been in routine clinical practice ever since the molecular determination of blood groups was achieved, during the early to mid 1990s. These early methods were dependent on allele-specific PCR to detect simple single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) responsible for blood group expression. As our knowledge regarding the molecular background of blood groups advanced, so did the numbers of SNPs requiring detection which necessitated the switch from allele-specific PCR to array-based technology, notably slide and bead-based approaches. All these methods thus described are totally dependent on the predefined genetic basis of each SNP. Hybrid blood group genes (as found in RH, ABO and MNS systems) are difficult to define by all of these aforementioned techniques. With the arrival of cheap next-generation sequencing (NGS) approaches in the past 5 years, we have conducted long-range PCR (LR-PCR) coupled with NGS determination of the major blood group genes. By analysis of these data using an Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine TM (PGM TM ), it is readily apparent that NGS can highly effectively be applied with high resolution to blood grouping at costs no more than current array-based platforms. However, the complexity of the data obtained need careful filtering for effective clinical utilization, but provides useful insight on the evolution of blood groups and their environmental impacts which will be of undoubted value as an academic exercise, but of minimal cost (if any) to the original testing.

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Digital PCR provides a highly accurate method to rapidly define blood group zygosity and has clinical application in the analysis of Rh phenotyped or genotyped samples. The vast majority of current blood group genotyping platforms are not designed to define zygosity, and thus, this technique may be used to define paternal zygosity in pregnancies that are at a risk of hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn and can distinguish between homo- and hemizygous-positive individuals.

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Background: The levels of procoagulant microvesicles (MVs) and tissue factor (TF)-bearing MVs may be increased in many conditions, including dengue fever (DF). This study aimed to measure the levels of MVs and TF-bearing MVs in patients with DF and matched healthy controls. Materials & methods: Levels of MVs and TF-bearing MVs in the plasma of patients with DF and matched healthy controls were measured using functional assay. Results: The patient group had significantly elevated levels of MVs (p < 0.001) and slightly increased levels of TF-bearing MVs (p = 0.454) compared with the matched healthy controls. Conclusion: Elevated levels of MVs and TF-bearing MVs could be used as biomarkers to evaluate the hemostatic function of patients with DF.