Australian Red Cross Blood Service

Medical Services supports optimal transfusion outcomes for patients by promoting safe and appropriate transfusion practice through expert clinical and scientific advice, education and research.

Our transfusion specialists support clinicians and laboratory teams in their diagnostic and patient care activities.

We promote safe and appropriate transfusion practice through a national 24/7 clinical advice service, and provision of undergraduate and postgraduate education and training.

Our transfusion.com.au website covers all about blood products and components, providing information for safe transfusion. The website is for health professionals to assist them with their work in laboratories, in surgery and at the bedside.

We review requests for intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) to ensure appropriateness of clinical indication and dose in line with national criteria.

We work with institutional, jurisdictional and national groups to improve transfusion clinical and laboratory practice. These activities include support to hospital transfusion committees, partnerships with the Australian and New Zealand Society of Blood Transfusion (ANZSBT) and other specialist international societies.

We work within the Blood Service and with external partners to monitor changes in clinical practice and emerging research, which may have an impact on blood and supply requirements, to inform national supply planning processes.

We also work closely with hospitals and pathology services in inventory planning to optimise availability of blood and blood products and minimise wastage.

By achieving these aims, the Blood Service performs its important stewardship role by ensuring donor blood is used for the benefit of the greatest number of patients with minimal risk.