After donating blood, the journey of that blood begins at the NHS Blood and Transplant hub in Colindale, London, where around 2,000 bags of whole blood are processed daily. Blood must be processed within 27 hours to ensure quality, with components like red blood cells and plasma being separated using high-tech centrifuges. Plasma, which constitutes 55% of blood, is termed ‘liquid gold’ for its vital role in creating life-saving medicines. Once separated, red blood cells are stored at 4C until tested for safety, while plasma is rapidly frozen at -20C and stored at -40C for future medical use. Since the lifting of a 25-year ban on using UK-donated plasma in 2021, the NHS has begun utilizing this resource to treat patients, though it still relies heavily on imports for immunoglobulin treatments.
Why It Matters
The processing of donated blood is crucial for the NHS, as it directly impacts the availability of life-saving treatments for patients with conditions such as hemophilia and autoimmune diseases. Historically, the UK was unable to use domestic plasma for over two decades due to health concerns, which hindered the development of a self-sufficient plasma supply chain. Since March 2025, thousands of patients have benefited from medicines created from UK plasma donations, highlighting the importance of local blood donations. Despite this progress, the UK remains reliant on foreign sources for over 75% of its immunoglobulin supply, underscoring the ongoing need for increased domestic production and processing capabilities.
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