What percentage of blood used in transfusions, is older than 14 days

Lord Robert McDowall

ref. KH/FOI/138145

3^rd November 2008

Dear Lord McDowall

Re: Information request

Thank you for your request to access information from NHS Blood and
Transplant (NHSBT) relating to the age of blood on transfusion. The
slight delay in responding has resulted from our checking to ensure that
we do not in fact hold this information. Once blood is issued by us to
hospitals, they manage their own stocks and we do not receive information
about age on transfusion from them.

However, we do record the age of the red cells we issue, and so are able
to provide you with this information, which I hope may be of use to you.

Year Average Age of Red Cells at Despatch (days)
2007/08 10.23
2006/07 10.45
2005/06 12.57
2004/05 14.32
2003/04 11.59

The downward trend appears to be continuing during 2008-09.

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Yours sincerely,

Mr. Narinder Thapar, BA(Hons)
Freedom of Information Manager
NHS Blood and Transplant

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you should write to: Head of Service Quality, NHS Blood and Transplant -
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