The blood cold chain: guide to the selection and procurement of equipment and accessories

Overview

This is the first WHO publication dedicated to assisting managers of blood programmes to select and procure equipment and devices for the blood cold chain. The safe storage and transportation of blood and blood products is an integral component of the WHO strategy for blood safety. It is estimated that approximately 2% of blood that has been found safe to transfuse may be discarded for various reasons. This percentage varies depending on the management of the inventory and the effectiveness of the blood cold chain, and is a waste of a scarce and valuable resource.