Blood or blood component transfusion is accepted as an integral facet of health care

delivery. Their life-sustaining role extends beyond medical emergencies to routine

surgical procedures and prolonged quality-of-life therapies. The degree, to which blood

components are used in medicine, demands that in its application, legal and ethical

considerations be borne in mind and their quality, safety, and efficacy be ensured in

order to prevent the transmission of diseases. It is this basic fact that underpins the

national effort to seek to collect blood from only voluntary non remunerated repeat

donors; ensure the highest quality in testing, storage, transport and preparation of

component units for transfusion; as well as, implementing highest standards at point of

care through this guideline.

Blood or blood component transfusion is accepted as an integral facet of health caredelivery. Their life-sustaining role extends beyond medical emergencies to routinesurgical procedures and prolonged quality-of-life therapies. The degree, to which bloodcomponents are used in medicine, demands that in its application, legal and ethicalconsiderations be borne in mind and their quality, safety, and efficacy be ensured inorder to prevent the transmission of diseases. It is this basic fact that underpins thenational effort to seek to collect blood from only voluntary non remunerated repeatdonors; ensure the highest quality in testing, storage, transport and preparation ofcomponent units for transfusion; as well as, implementing highest standards at point ofcare through this guideline.