|
The WPBTS Transport Department is an essential link in the transportation of blood and blood products. The collection and delivery of blood and blood products is strictly governed by criteria set out in the Standards of Practice with particular focus on the maintenance of the cold chain. All blood and blood products are handled, stored and transported under optimum conditions to prevent damage and deterioration. Before despatch from our headquarters, the temperature of all blood products is recorded. A temperature record is again taken on arrival at the Blood Banks. These records are kept for purposes of quality assurance and traceability. Appropriate containers and eutectic devices are used, to ensure that optimum temperatures are maintained across all links in the transfusion process – from collection, to processing, to distribution to the blood banks, and subsequently to the hospitals and patients. In order to meet the patient’s needs as efficiently as possible, our drivers are trained and qualified in all aspects of cold chain management and the safe transportation of blood products. Blood donors are bled at mobile clinics, across the Western Cape, on a daily basis. The blood is collected from the mobile clinics every two hours and is transported back to the laboratories at WPBTS headquarters in Pinelands in heavy duty, plastic hampers to ensure that it is protected and spillages, if any, are contained. The units of blood are prepared in the Central Sorting laboratory, for further processing into Red Blood Cells, Plasma products and Platelets, while the attached specimens are sent to our Virology and Blood Grouping departments for testing purposes. The stock levels in our blood banks and emergency banks are monitored and replenished on a regular basis by the Stock Control department. WPBTS offer transport services to hospitals and institutions for collecting patient’s blood samples, to be crossmatched at the nearest Blood Bank, both for emergency and routine requirements. The crossmatched blood is delivered to the hospital once testing is complete. Blood is a precious commodity and is handled with care, from the moment a donation is received from the donor, tested, processed, transported and issued to the patient. In so doing we are able to provide the safest blood to the community. |
