Life Blood Newsletter – July 2024
Dear Life Blood Reader,
This edition looks at several blood donor deferral changes for you, the blood user, to see how donation safety is prioritised at the Western Cape Blood Service (WCBS). You can also learn about blood ordering updates, such as the new requirement for patient crossmatch samples to be less than 24 hours old when received at the Blood Bank, the second sample policy for first time blood recipients at hospitals with onsite Blood Banks, extension of platelet product expiry times, pooling of cryoprecipitate products, and temporary relocation of Red Cross Blood Bank. You are encouraged to please participate in the annual customer satisfaction survey and will also read about a successful in-service nurses training session held at Groote Schuur Hospital, how WCBS ensures hepatitis-free blood products, and World Blood Donor Day 2024.
We value your comments, feedback and suggestions.
Until next time,
Hayley Alie
Hospital Liaison Officer
Dr Caroline Hilton
Lead Medical Consultant
