Book excerpt: Biomedical scientists are the foundation of modern healthcare, from cancer screening to diagnosing HIV, from blood transfusion for surgery to food poisoning and infection control. Without biomedical scientists, the diagnosis of disease, the evaluation of the effectiveness of treatment, and research into the causes and cures of disease would not be possible. The Fundamentals of Biomedical Science series has been written to reflect the challenges of practicing biomedical science today. It draws together essential basic science with insights into laboratory practice to show how an understanding of the biology of disease is coupled to the analytical approaches that lead to diagnosis. Assuming only a minimum of prior knowledge, the series reviews the full range of disciplines to which a Biomedical Scientist may be exposedfrom microbiology to cytopathology to transfusion science. The science of transfusion and transplantation demands a multifaceted understanding of immunology, haematology, and genetics from the biomedical scientist. Transfusion and Transplantation Science synthesizes the essential concepts of these subjects and presents them within the practical framework of the hospital banking and transplantation centre, providing you with the knowledge and skills to specialize in this discipline.