Aide-mémoire for National Blood Programmes: the blood cold chain

Overview

Blood transfusion is an essential part of modern health care, and it helps to save millions of lives every year. National health authorities have a responsibility to ensure adequate blood supplies in a timely manner, to meet the needs of all patients requiring transfusion. The conditions under which blood and blood products are stored and transported have a direct effect on their safety, efficacy and availability. The blood cold chain is a system for storing and transporting blood and blood products, within the correct temperature range and conditions, from the point of collection from blood donors to the point of transfusion to the patient.