Washington: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved 15 new blood typing examinations intended to perk up the safety of blood transfusion.

The tests that were previously unavailable in the US are called blood grouping reagents.

The FDA has stated that the tests find out the blood type of blood donors, a vital step in guaranteeing safe blood transfusion for patients. If incompatible blood is administered to a patient, it may cause a grave and possibly deadly reaction.

The recently sanctioned ALBAclone Blood Grouping Reagents comprise the common ABO and Rh examinations, in addition to tests for rare blood types. The reagents are monoclonal antibodies, highly specific antibodies that guarantee product consistency and accessibility.

The reagents have been manufactured by Alba Bioscience, Inc. of Durham, N.C.