In 1987-1988 the National Reference Center for Blood Groups checked samples of reagents and cards utilized in ultimate pretransfusion tests at the patient's bedside as described in the circular published on the 17th of May (1985) by the "Direction Générale de la Santé". This inquiry shaved some deficiencies concerning the storage conditions, the patency of the reagents and the absence of anti-A + B reagent. Taking these results into account, some modifications are considered in order to improve the realization of these tests which are regarded in France as the last major step for the security of the red blood cells transfusion.