Blood stocks
Blood stock status
The stock status is Amber for group O red cells, positive and negative.
The stock status is Pre-amber for B negative, A positive red cells; A negative platelets.
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:
- Patient Blood Management initiatives
- Blood Stocks Management inventory management
To support stock sharing between trusts, or with independent hospitals, we have produced a service level agreement template (Word 68KB) for hospitals to use.
The stock we have available to issue is:
Red blood cell stock levels - text version
O- 7.08 days, A- 14.86 days, B- 4.91 days, AB- 7.08 days, O+ 7.91 days, A+ 7.57 days, B+ 8.27 days, AB+ 12.60 days
We aim to maintain 6 days of stock for red blood cells.
Platelet stock levels - text version
O- 1.51 days, A- 1.28 days, B- 2.13 days, AB- 2.00 days, O+ 1.86 days, A+ 1.75 days, B+ 1.70 days, AB+ 2.92 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.
Communications previously issued to hospitals about the Amber alert
25 July - Amber alert declared for group O red cells (PDF 166KB)