Tutorial Sections

Database Usage

How to use the allele tables

Requesting Access to the Database

To submit suggestions or edit allele data, you need to create an account. Follow these steps:

Click "Sign In" in the top right corner

Look for the Sign In button in the navigation bar at the top of the page.

In the pop-up window, click "Request access"

At the bottom of the sign-in modal, you'll see a link that says "Need to create an account? Request access"

Fill in your details and click "Submit"

You'll need to provide:

Username: First and Last name (as you want it to appear)
E-mail: Work email address (used to sign in)
Institution: Let us know which institution you work for
Access Reason: Enter a brief description of your reason for access

You will hear back from us shortly after

Your request will be reviewed by the ISBT team, and you'll receive an email notification once your account is approved.

Submitting Allele Suggestions

Once you have access, you can suggest new alleles or edits to existing alleles. There are two ways to do this:

Option A – Via Suggestion Management

Click on your profile icon in the top right corner

Select "Manage Suggestions" from the dropdown menu

Click the "Create New Suggestion" button

Choose "New Allele" or "Edit Existing Allele" as the suggestion type

Fill in all required fields (for edits, select the system and allele first)

Submit your suggestion for review

Option B – From a System or Allele Page

This option is quicker as the system and/or allele will be pre-selected for you.

For New Alleles:

Navigate to the relevant blood group system page (e.g., ABO)

Click the "Suggest New Allele" button

Fill in all required fields (the system will be pre-selected)

For Editing Existing Alleles:

Navigate to the specific allele page (e.g., ABO*A1.02)

Click the "Suggest Change" button

Make your proposed changes (system and allele will be pre-filled)

Tips for Submitting Suggestions

Provide as much detail as possible about the genetic variant
Include relevant references and supporting documentation
Follow ISBT nomenclature guidelines for naming alleles
You can track the status of your submissions in Suggestion Management
Suggestions are reviewed by the ISBT Working Party before being added to the database