After blood is collected and tested, it must be stored and moved under strict conditions to keep it safe and effective until it reaches a patient.

Different components, different needs

Each blood component has specific storage requirements:

·       Red blood cells (RBCs)

o   Stored in special refrigerators at 2–6°C.

o   Shelf‑life is limited (often around 35–42 days, depending on preservative solution).

·       Platelets

o   Stored at 20–24°C (room temperature) with gentle continuous agitation.

o   Short shelf‑life, usually 5–7 days, which is why regular donors are important.

·       Plasma (fresh frozen plasma)

o   Frozen at −18°C or colder (often −25°C or lower).

o   Can be stored for many months, depending on national rules.

·       Cryoprecipitate and special products

o   Also stored frozen and used for specific clotting factor needs.

Temperature monitoring and quality control

Blood banks use dedicated equipment:

·       Blood refrigerators with alarms that trigger if the temperature moves out of range.

·       Platelet incubators that keep the right temperature and gently shake the bags.

·       Freezers with backup power for plasma and cryoprecipitate.

Staff:

·       Record and review temperature logs regularly.

·       Have protocols for what to do if a fridge or freezer fails (e.g., quickly move units to backup equipment, discard units if safety is in doubt).

·       Perform periodic quality checks to ensure cells and clotting factors remain functional.

Safe transport between facilities

When blood products are sent from a blood bank to a hospital or between hospitals, they are transported in validated cold‑chain containers:

·       Red cells are transported in insulated boxes with ice packs to maintain 2–6°C.

·       Platelets are transported at controlled room temperature.

·       Plasma is usually kept frozen or thawed close to the time of use, depending on need.

Each shipment includes:

·       Documentation of what products are inside.

·       Time and temperature control measures.

·       A chain‑of‑custody record showing who handled the products at each step.

Traceability and stock management

Blood banks maintain systems to:

·       Track each unit from donor to recipient (or to final disposal if not used).

·       Monitor expiry dates and rotate stock so older units are used first, within their safe life.

·       Ensure blood of different types is available where it is most needed.

All these measures—controlled storage, safe transport, careful tracking—are part of the quality system that makes modern blood transfusion reliable and safe.