Proteomic applications in blood transfusion: working the jigsaw puzzle

The application of proteomic technologies to transfusion medicine has opened new avenues to our understanding of the products we prepare for patients and the processes that impact the quality of those products. The development of the field of proteomics has paralleled that of transfusion medicine with over a century of key scientific accomplishments required to bring us to our modern systems. We review the technology of proteomics and its application to transfusion medicine with specific reference to the analysis of blood products, both fractionated and fresh. Although the use of proteomic tools to address transfusion medicine questions is really just beginning, it is clear that this method of analysis provides different insights into unaddressed issues in the area of blood product research. Proteomics also offers the promise of improving our approach to the control of blood product quality and even the assessment of blood donors, but these are efforts for the near future.