The Concerted Action EUROBIOMAT -Haemocompatibility- provided research laboratories either from industry or university, authorities for certification and control, and organisations for standardisation with a large collection of detailed descriptions of test methods covering all aspects of haemocompatibility of biomaterials (Book of Standards). A Network of European Test Centres has been established in order to evaluate the limitations of individual test procedures and to qualify and certify biocompatible materials and surfaces. Six different Reference Materials (tubes and sheets), all of them already in clinical use, were purchased and distributed to the collaborating centres in order to achieve a large series of material data obtained from identical surfaces. New and better haemocompatible biomaterial surfaces have been developed as well as disposable PVC-tubes with alternative plasticisers with an essentially decreased migration rate and lower toxicity.