News and statements

NHS birthday: Celebrating the role of blood donors in pandemic
As the NHS turns 72, NHS Blood and Transplant is saying ‘thank you’ to blood, platelet and convalescent plasma donors for their role in keeping the nation going during lockdown.

One of the first COVID-19 convalescent plasma recipients supports donor appeal
One of the first people to receive COVID-19 convalescent plasma has spoken about their experience and urged people to donate.

100,000 people have now offered to donate COVID-19 convalescent plasma
We are appealing for more people to donate plasma for a national treatment trial.

Giving blood in Leicester remains essential travel
We are urging blood donors in Leicester to keep donating as normal if they are fit and healthy, as the city enters another two weeks of extended lockdown measures.

Men make more coronavirus antibodies than women, making them better plasma donors
New analysis found men produce higher levels of COVID-19 plasma antibodies than women.

This Sickle Cell Awareness Day, NHSBT is urging more black people to register as blood donors
This World Sickle Cell Awareness Day (Friday 19th June), NHS Blood and Transplant is urging more black people to register as blood donors to help save and improve the lives of sickle cell patients.

Asian donors more likely to have COVID-19 convalescent plasma which could save lives
People from Asian communities who have recovered from COVID-19 are more likely to have the antibody-rich convalescent plasma which can save lives, according to early analysis.

New text messages led to more than 10,000 people registering as COVID-19 plasma donors
New text messages from the national testing programme led to 10,370 people registering as potential COVID-19 convalescent plasma donors over Monday and Tuesday.

New donor centres opened to support call for COVID-19 plasma donors in London
NHS Blood and Transplant is opening three new ‘pop-up’ COVID-19 convalescent plasma donor centres in London, as it massively expands collection.

Blood samples used for coronavirus surveillance
Routine samples from blood donations are being made available to monitor the spread of coronavirus.