Each year, the blood transfusion service transfuses around 55,000 units of blood components, helping to save the lives of patients with serious injuries, those undergoing surgery, premature babies, and people receiving treatment for cancer and other conditions.
What are blood components and their functions?
Different components of blood are used to treat specific conditions. The most common types include:
- Red cells: carry oxygen around the body.
- Platelets: help blood clot and stop bleeding.
- Fresh frozen plasma (FFP): contains clotting factors that help control bleeding
- Cryoprecipitate: a rich source of specific clotting proteins used to treat bleeding
- Albumin: a protein used to expand blood volume, particularly in patients with liver disease.
- Prophylactic anti-D immunoglobulin: given to RhD-negative pregnant women to prevent the development of antibodies that could affect future pregnancies.
Note: Whole blood is not used for transfusions in order to minimise the risk of a transfusion reaction. Instead, only the specific blood component(s) required are given.
Laboratory testing and matching
Our blood transfusion laboratories process approximately 65,000 blood samples annually for “group and screen” testing. These tests include:
- Determining blood type (ABO and RhD status)
- Screening for unexpected antibodies that may cause a reaction with a red cell unit transfusion
- Sourcing compatible donor blood and matching it to the patient’s blood type and antibodies
- Kleihauer testing, which checks for foetal bleeding in pregnant women
- Additional specialist tests as required
Patient blood management
We run a dedicated Pre-operative Anaemia Clinic for patients booked for planned surgery. By assessing and improving blood levels—such as haemoglobin and iron status—before surgery, we help reduce the need for transfusion and improve recovery outcomes.
Your feedback matters
We are committed to continuously improving our service. If you’ve used our blood transfusion services, we’d be grateful if you could take a moment to complete our Blood Sciences Patient Feedback Survey.