Issue, Transport and Storage of Blood

3.1 Issue of blood and blood components

3.1.1. Issue of blood

1. For all wards and private hospitals, which do not have a dedicated blood refrigerator, all cross-matched blood will be kept in the blood bank. Blood must be collected from the blood bank only when it is required for transfusion.
2. For wards and private hospitals, which have a dedicated blood refrigerator, blood can be collected at any time. However, it is very important that the blood must be stored at 2^oC to 6^oC in the dedicated blood refrigerator without any undue delay. To maintain the quality of the blood, there must be a quality control program for the dedicated blood refrigerator. The blood bank will assist in the setting up of a quality control program if requested.

3.1.2 Issue of Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP), cryoprecipitate

1. Temperature below -30^oC is required for the storage of these component. It must be    requested only when transfusion is certain. These product must be thawed at -37°C first and transfused within 30 minutes of issue for maximum efficacy.

3.1.3 Issue of platelets

1. Platelets must be stored at 22 ± 2^oC in continuous agitation. It must be requested only when transfusion is certain. These product must be transfused within 30 minutes of issue for maximum efficacy.

3.2 Transportation

3.2.1 Blood, FFP and cryoprecipitate

1. These products must be transported in a well-insulated container, e.g. cooler box or container. The transportation container must have ice pack inside.
2. Whole blood and Packed Cells must not have direct contact with ice packs. There should be a cloth/ card board in between them to avoid haemolysis.

3.2.2 Platelets

1. Containers for the transportation of platelets must not contain any ice packs. However, for long distance transportation of platelets in hot and humid conditions or in a non-air-conditioned transport, an ice pack may be put at the bottom of the container in order to sustain an ambient temperature for the viability of the platelets.
2. The platelet must never come into contact with the ice pack.

3.3 Collection, Storage and Use

1. Blood and blood products will be issued only to hospital / ward personnel. The person must bring fulfilled ‘Slip Pengambilan Darah / Komponen Darah’ and the duplicate copy of the blood request form.