Description:This handbook focuses on the fundamentals in clinical transfusion. Technical detail is intentionally omitted in order to allow the reader to grasp the most important information within the shortest time. Specific guidance on the management of different clinical situations is the objective in order to facilitate clinical desision making. This book fills a void between the minimal information in general textbooks of Medicine, Surgery, Anesthesiology, etc. and the more detailed texts available in the field of Blood Banking and Transfusion Medicine. The value of this book is the ability to grasp salient features regarding current issues and clinical decision making. Background informaiton is minimal and given only when its omission would obsucre understanding. When more detail is needed, reference texts or other sources of information are suggested.