Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Information and updates to help clinical and laboratory staff manage the impact of COVID-19
Refer to the red cell shortage plan if stocks fall to less than 2 days
Refer to the platelet shortage plan if stocks fall to 0.5 days or less
Blood supply updates
18 August
- Ensure stock targets are appropriate to meet local demand
- Limit over specification of O D negative red cell requests unless a patient specific requirement
- Limit requests for “fresh red cells” and take a proportional share of K+ units
- Accept substitutions, where clinically appropriate
21 July
- Demand for red cell blood has increased by 6%
- Disproportionate increase in the demand for O D neg
- If this increase continues there will be future challenges with supply
- Please follow our guidance when ordering
8 June
- Recent demand for blood
- Restoration and recovery plans
Archive
Go to the archive for previous updates
Do you or your colleagues want to donate?
Please book an appointment by
- Using the Give Blood app
- Booking online
- Telephone 0300 123 23 23
Convalescent plasma research
As part of a national research response to the COVID-19 outbreak, we are leading a programme to collect convalescent blood plasma from people who have recovered from coronavirus.
This plasma will be used in a national clinical trial to improve the recovery of people with COVID-19.
Register your Trust to take part in the clinical trials
REMAP-CAP: ukremap-cap@icnarc.org or 020 7831 6878.
RECOVERY: recoverytrial@ndph.ox.ac.uk or contact
Our answers to your questions
Webinars
Dr Lise Estcourt, Consultant Haematologist, NHSBT and University of Oxford, on the UK COVID-19 convalescent plasma trials (June).
This will be available to download soon.
Dr Gail Miflin, NHSBT Chief Medical Officer, on the research programme and clinical trials (April).
Recovered COVID-19 patients
We need people who’ve recovered from coronavirus to donate blood plasma.
Download or order from the distribution hub. Please refer to our instructions to create an account.
Information for potential plasma donors
Patients facing convalescent plasma therapy
Our fact sheet explains what convalescent plasma is and how it is used in the treatment of COVID-19.
National Blood Transfusion Committee
- Advice on good stock management
- COVID-19 and transfusion
- FAQ part 1 for hospital labs
- FAQ part 2 for hospital labs
Clinical
NCI 9 April - BioResource of plasma samples related to COVID-19
H&I 8 April - testing services
RCI 8 April - referring samples
IBGRL 6 April - referring samples
TAS 2 April - clinical and operational
Stem cells 2 April - NICE rapid guidance on haemopoietic stem cell transplantation