UKBTS Web Areas

The UKBTS web site originated as a publication means for the various JPAC publications. While this remains the primary role of the site, increasingly other aspects of the Transfusion and Transplantation activities are joining the site.

The major components of the site are:

• JPAC publications:

  The guidelines are applicable to the 4 Blood Transfusion Services in the United Kingdom. They cover the whole transfusion chain from the selection of donors, through collection, testing, processing and clinical use of blood products; they also cover the selection of donors of tissues and the testing and processing of these tissues, including haemopoietic progenitor cells.

  These guidelines are prepared by experts from the transfusion services, hospitals and universities throughout the United Kingdom. They are frequently updated to take account of increasing knowledge and changing technology. The JPAC Guidelines are contained in 6 publications:

  • Guidelines for the Blood Transfusion Services in the United Kingdom also known as the Red Book.
    Click here to access.

  The guidance for the selection of donors (DSG) are subsections of the Red Book but are produced separately as frequent updating is required. They are:

  • Whole Blood and Apheresis Donor Selection Guidelines.
    Click here to access.
  • Tissue Donor Selection Guidelines - Deceased Donors.
    Click here to access.
  • Tissue Donor Selection Guidelines - Live Donors.
    Click here to access.
  • Tissue Donor Selection Guidelines - Cord Blood.
    Click here to access.
  • Tissue Donor Selection Guidelines - Bone Marrow & PBSC.
    Click here to access.

  In keeping with the widespread acceptance throughout the developed blood transfusion services of the concept of the whole transfusion chain , or vein to vein transfusion, the Standing Advisory Committee for Clinical Transfusion produces guidelines for those involved in the clinical aspects of transfusion:

  • Handbook of Transfusion Medicine.
    Click here to access.

• Evidence supporting the guidelines:

  The Systematic Review Initiative (SRI) is a clinical research group established by the National Blood Service in 2002 in order to "develop the evidence base for the practice of transfusion medicine".

  The SRI has developed 2 databases:

  • A database of Systematic Reviews relevant to Transfusion Medicine
  • A database of Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) relevant to Transfusion Medicine

  For further information on the SRI and to access the database, go to 'Systematic Review Initiative'

• Better Blood Transfusion Toolkit:

  This Toolkit is a resource for all those involved in transfusion. It is linked to the initiatives of the Departments of Health in the UK as set out in the Health Service Circular 'Better Blood Transfusion - Appropriate use of Blood'

  To access the various tools, go to 'Better Blood Transfusion: Toolkit'

• New Regulations:

  Increasing changes in regulation have seen the need for a central platform of communication. The recent UK legislation on Blood Safety and Quality Regulations 2005 (Statutory Instrument 2005/50 and Statutory Instrument 2005/1098) where the response to the EU Directives - 2002/98/EC and 2004/33/EC.

  The regulations set standards for quality and safety for the collection, testing, processing, storage and distribution of human blood and blood components, aspects of the regulations apply to ‘blood establishments’ (the UK Blood Services) and Hospital Blood Banks.

  The Operational Impact working Group (OIG) was given the task to assess the impact of the new legislation. To access the report and communications from the OIG, go to 'New Regulations, Implementation'