The journey of a blood donation
Have you ever wondered what happens to a donation once you have given it?
Here’s what happens to a whole blood donation when it leaves one of our blood donation venues.
Watch the journey of a blood donation video
After you donate
Your donation is labelled with a unique barcode so it can be traced at every stage of the process. It is packed into insulated containers to maintain the correct temperature and protect the quality of the blood.
Our drivers transport donations from the venue to one of our blood centres for processing. At the same time, the blood samples taken with your donation are sent to our laboratories for testing.
Processing your donation
At the blood centre, each donation goes through careful processing.
First, white blood cells are removed. This helps reduce the risk of reactions and infections in patients.
Your donation is then separated into its different components using a centrifuge. This separates:
- Red blood cells
- Platelets
- Plasma
Because your donation is separated into components, it can help up to 3 different patients.
Each component is stored separately while all required safety checks are completed.
Testing for safety
Every donation is tested.
We confirm your blood group and check for infections to make sure your blood is as safe as possible for patients. If you have donated before, your blood group is compared with your existing record.
If there is any issue with your donation, you will be informed.
Once all testing is complete and passed, each component is labelled and placed into controlled storage, ready to be sent to hospitals.
Most components are ready to be issued to hospitals around 3 days after donation.
Storage and delivery
Blood components are stored at carefully controlled temperatures until they are needed.
- Red blood cells can be stored for up to 35 days
- Platelets can be stored for up to 7 days
- Plasma can be stored for up to 3 years
Hospitals request the components they need using an online ordering system. Our drivers operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to ensure blood gets to where it is needed.
Most deliveries happen routinely. Occasionally, urgent deliveries may require vehicles using blue lights to reach a patient as quickly as possible.
At the hospital
When blood arrives at a hospital, further checks are carried out before it is transfused. Only after these checks is it ready to be used for patients.
Blood may be used for planned transfusions, such as for people with long-term conditions, or in emergencies such as complications during childbirth or serious accidents.
When your donation has been issued to a hospital, you will receive a text message to let you know where it was used.