Blood stocks

Blood stock status

The stock status is Amber for group O red cells

The stock status is Pre-Amber for B D red negative red cells

Stock status explained

The National Blood Transfusion Committee's (NBTC) shortage plans for red cells, and platelets outline four phases for the supply of blood to hospitals, supported by a framework of actions for NHSBT and hospitals at each phase. The phases are:

  • Green when circumstances are normal and where supply meets demand
  • Pre-Amber when there is reduced availability of blood for a short or a prolonged period
  • Amber when there is reduced availability of blood for a short or a prolonged period which impacts on clinical activity
  • Red when there are severe, prolonged shortages which impact on clinical activity

Best practice

Please refer to: 

To support stock sharing between trusts, or with independent hospitals, we have produced a service level agreement template (Word 70KB) for hospitals to use.

The stock we have available to issue is:

Red blood cell stock levels - text version

O- 3.0 days, A- 11.0 days, B- 4.3 days, AB- 5.9 days, O+ 4.3 days, A+ 3.7 days, B+ 7.4 days, AB+ 9.4 days

We aim to maintain 6 days of stock for red blood cells.

Platelet stock levels - text version

O- 2.06 days, A- 1.90 days, B- 3.50 days, AB- 1.90 days, O+ 2.49 days, A+ 2.70 days, B+ 2.91 days, AB+ 4.36 days 

We aim to maintain a minimum of 1 days' stock for platelets (except AB-).

When stocks are low we may need to offer substitutions (PDF 141KB) based on best transfusion practice.

Contingency reduced-dose apheresis platelets in the event of a severe shortage

Communications previously issued to hospitals about the Amber alert

25 July 2024 - Amber alert declared for group O red cells (PDF 166KB)

12 August 2024 - Our stock of group O red cells has shown some improvement but remains vulnerable. We continue to be at Amber level and ask that you maintain your Emergency Blood Management Arrangements for group O red cells (PDF 123KB)

21 August 2024 - Our stock of group O red cells has shown some improvement but remains vulnerable. We continue to be at Amber level and ask that you maintain your Emergency Blood Management Arrangements for group O red cells. (PDF 94KB)

11 September 2024 - Group O red cell stock has improved but remains vulnerable and we remain at Amber level. We’ve moved into Green status for groups B negative, A positive and AB negative red cells (PDF 463KB)

01 October 2024 - We remain at Amber alert status for group O red cells. However, we are now seeing a sustained fall in O D negative red cells. Without conditions changing, there is a risk that we will move to Red alert stock levels in three to four weeks time. Thank you for your support (PDF 158KB)

17 October 2024 - We remain at Amber alert status for group O red cells. Stock has improved which has reduced, but not removed, the risk of moving to Red Alert. Please sustain the actions required in an amber alert, particularly best transfusion and inventory management practice to avoid the need for additional measures. Thank you for your support. (PDF 91KB)

30 October 2024 - We remain at Amber alert status for group O red cells. Stock has improved but needs to be sustained. Please maintain the actions required in an amber alert, particularly best transfusion and inventory management practice to avoid the need for additional measures. Thank you for your support. (PDF 566KB)

21 November 2024 - We remain at Amber alert status for group O red cells and have moved to pre-Amber for B D negative red cells. Please sustain the actions required in an amber alert, particularly best transfusion and inventory management practice to avoid the need for additional measures. We are NOT asking for surgery to be deferred. Thank you for your support. (PDF 95KB)

12 December 2024 - We remain at Amber alert status for group O red cells and pre-Amber for B D negative red cells. We ask for cautious ordering of A D negative platelets over Christmas to protect national stocks. Thank you for your support. (PDF 49KB)

17 December 2024 - We are implementing named patient only for A D negative platelet orders from tomorrow until 9 January 2025. This action is to help ensure we maintain supply. Thank you for your support (PDF 567KB)

27 December 2024 - Low Stock of Platelets – Immediate move to AMBER ALERT (PDF 744KB)

30 December 2024 - Amber Alert for platelets. We may need to  issue Reduced Dose Platelets and 5-day Platelets. Please ensure your LIMS is up to date. See the website for full detail and additional information. (PDF 632KB)

06 January 2025 - Platelets exit from Amber alert (PDF 546KB)

15 January 2025 - Platelet Stock Update – Remove requirement to use A D negative platelets for named patients only. All platelet groups remain at PRE-AMBER (PDF 637KB)

24 January 2025 - Platelet Stock Update – A D negative remains at Pre-Amber, all other groups move to Green - Red cell Stock Update – O red cells remain in AMBER, B D negative continues in Pre-Amber (PDF 638KB)

10 February 2025 – Our stock for platelets returns to the green phase: supply is able to meet demand (PDF 495KB)

17 February 2025 - Red Cell Update: Amber Alert continues for Group O Red Cells & Pre-Amber continues for B negative Red Cells (PDF 126KB)

17 April 2025 - Low stock update - B, Ro red cells and A D negative platelets