Transfusion Services

Blood Bank testing & Blood Donor collections

Blood Transfusion science encompasses the processes involved in the intravenous transfer of human blood and blood products from a donor to a recipient. Transfusions are used in medical conditions and trauma situations to replace lost blood volume and the essential components such as red blood cells, plasma, clotting factors, and platelets.

Blood Transfusion Services include:

Preparation of:

  • Red cells concentrates
  • Platelet concentrates
  • Fresh frozen plasma
  • Cryoprecipitate
  • Whole blood
  • Fractionated plasma and recombinant products

Testing in:

  • Donor selection and screening, blood collection, and Donation typing.
  • Therapeutic venesection
  • Blood grouping
  • Antigens & antibodies detection
  • Component compatibility testing
  • Storage & handling of blood products

This is a critical laboratory sector that is often separated from laboratory services and not given the administrative support it deserves. Its beneficial impacts can be seen in emergency management, general recovery medicine, and surgical operations.

Transfusion services rely heavily on local communities and family volunteers as the only source of its highly valued blood products and life-saving therapy. Many Pacific Island nations struggle with the demands of donor collection services and use the assistance of the Red Cross to bolster local stock supply and blood drives.

Within the laboratory, technical advances and cross-match methodology has rapidly improved in an effort to ensure accurate and safe transfusion practices are maintained at both local and national levels.

Developments in Blood Transfusion testing include:

  • Better detection methods for Antibody identification.
  • Detection and typing of minor blood groups other than ABO and Rh.
  • Improved screening of blood donors to prevent transmission of infectious diseases and reduce contamination rates.
  • Instrument and equipment changes to accommodate CAT cassettes.
  • Moving from plastic test tubes to Column Agglutination technology bringing better standardisation and stability.
  • Solid Phase Red Cell Adherence (SPRCA), Protein A capture techniques.
  • Introducing automation and card readers for a faster blood group screening.