Number of blood donations is decreasing – safe transport and proper storage of blood products are therefore becoming increasingly important

(Image source: B Medical Systems)

World Blood Donor Day aims to raise awareness of the global shortage of blood donations and to strengthen efforts to recruit new donors. A specialist in medical cold chains predicts a significant increase in the demand for the transportation and storage of blood and blood products on this World Blood Donor Day. Given the decline in the number of blood donations, it is more important than ever to use the right equipment to safely store donated blood for routine medical procedures and emergency care.

According to the German Red Cross (DRK), only about three percent of the population regularly donate blood. Furthermore, around 100,000 active blood donors across Germany are annually disqualified due to age or illness. Accidents, births, and chronic diseases are just some of the situations where a blood transfusion can save lives. Although the situation for the most common blood groups is not yet alarming, the DRK Blood Donation Service points out that the situation for some blood groups is critical. The mobilization around the war in Ukraine and the lifting of the last hygiene measures due to Covid last year give hope for an increase in donations.

Blood products are highly sensitive biological substances and cannot be stored in household refrigerators. In particular, concentrates of red blood cells must always be stored between 2°C and 6°C. This is a very narrow temperature range. Medications, for example, tolerate a cooling temperature range of 2°C to 8°C. Therefore, storage temperature is extremely important and requires specialized medical cooling solutions. Household refrigerators are not suitable for storing blood because the temperature difference between the lower and upper compartments is too great. Additionally, the compressor of a household refrigerator causes vibrations that can lead to hemolysis (breakdown of red blood cells). When storing red blood cells, the use of appropriate devices is therefore essential.

Marnick Dewilde, Chief Sales Officer of B Medical Systems, comments: “The shortage of blood donations during the Covid pandemic has prompted many healthcare professionals to reconsider the reliability of blood supply. Now that the pandemic is over, several countries are focusing on measures to ensure self-sufficiency by promoting local donations and investing in the necessary infrastructure. We want to support these efforts with our reliable portfolio of blood management solutions to ensure the safety of blood and blood components throughout the entire supply chain.”

B Medical Systems offers a wide range of solutions for the transport and storage of blood. The portfolio includes five passive boxes with optional cooling elements and an active unit powered by a compressor, as well as refrigerators specifically designed for blood storage to ensure optimal conditions. Additionally, the company offers plasma freezers and ultra-low temperature freezers for blood plasma storage, as well as contact shock freezers designed for rapid freezing of plasma to ensure the highest yield of critical coagulation factors.

These innovative solutions, specifically developed for blood banks and transfusion centers, offer high reliability and safety and can also be equipped with monitoring solutions offered by B Medical Systems. All products meet the highest safety standards for end-users and patients and are classified as medical devices (Class IIa) according to the European Medical Device Regulation.