This seventh edition takes account of the European Directives on blood and tissues and the resulting United Kingdom Regulations. We have tried to indicate throughout this edition which of our guidelines are now legal requirements. The book continues to include best practice guidelines and detailed technical procedures.
Blood Safety and Quality Regulation definitions and terminology are used throughout. A list of definitions is included. The four National Blood/Blood Transfusion Services in the UK are blood establishments in accordance with the EU Directives as are the individual centres associated with them. Hospital blood banks fulfil different functions but several Articles in the 'Blood Directives' and hence the Blood Safety and Quality Regulations 2005 apply to them; these are explained.
The format of the book has changed with the material presented in continuous chapters rather than in parts. All chapters have been revised and several new chapters added; therefore changes introduced in this edition are not indicated in the text.
We have included a few blank pages in the front of the publication where changes notified by the Joint UKBTS/NIBSC Professional Advisory Committee (JPAC) can be attached.
The 'Red Book' is as up to date as we can make it at the time of printing. Further EU Directives are in preparation and will in time be transposed into UK Regulations. Changes in these guidelines will therefore continue to occur. These will be notified on the JPAC website www.transfusionguidelines.org.uk and through the management of each of the UK Blood Services.
We hope the users of these guidelines and regulations find this edition clear and helpful.
We wish to thank the members of the Standing Advisory Committees who undertook the task of revising or writing the relevant chapters. In particular we wish to thank Caroline Smith for her painstaking preparation of the material for this publication.
Virge James (Editor)
National Blood Service, Sheffield Centre
Longley Lane
SHEFFIELD
S5 7JN
Brian McClelland
Professional Director, Joint UKBTS/NIBSC Professional Advisory Committee
Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service
Protein Fractionation Centre
Ellen's Glen Road
EDINBURGH
EH17 7QT
Brian.McClelland@snbts.csa.scot.nhs.uk