1.1. Purpose of computing guidelines 1.1.1. Since the publication of the previous recommendations on hospital blood bank computing, the use of computers as an aid to the safe provision of blood components and collection of transfusion-related information has markedly increased. There is now the necessity to revisit the recommendations, to supplement them in light of the experience gained in transfusion computing, and to extend the recommendations to cover topics such as electronic requesting, electronic selection and issue of components, communications with Transfusion Centres and regulatory requirements. 1.1.2. This document is not a statement of user requirements but may be used in the assessment of minimum functionality for new blood bank computer systems, and their interaction with automated systems for blood grouping, antibody screening and identification, and compatibility testing. 1.1.3. Experience with hospital blood bank computing systems to date has confirmed the benefits in operating efficiency with fast and accurate data retrieval, improvements in the quality of work and/or with rationalization of procedures and incorporation of safety controls at key stages throughout the processing of the request. 1.1.4. Computerization of blood transfusion records should make a greater variety of current statistical information more easily available than is possible with manual methods. Realized outcomes of this new information are the assessment of efficiency of component usage and the effects of any change of policy or procedure.