“It’s in you to give" is the fantastically simple call to action from Canadian Blood Services. But for some people — such as those of us with a mixed bag of travel and medical histories — it isn’t so easy to just show up, roll up (a sleeve) and then settle back as this life-giving liquid flows into the collection bag. Blood collected through regular donations goes to patients who need blood products to manage a wide variety of health concerns. Recipients are already dealing with serious medical issues, and the last thing they need is added risk from a transfusion. For this reason, Canadian

Did you know that Canadian Blood Services directly funds innovative research?

Health screening, education and donor testing help to ensure donors are healthy enough to give and that their gift doesn’t cause harm to patients.

Meet Dr. Elisabeth Maurer: she uses lasers to measure quality of platelets

A new and improved site to learn, share and advance in the fields of transfusion and transplantation medicine After much hard work, collaboration and consultation, we're pleased to announce the launch of a new and improved online educational platform for health-care professionals. Canadian Blood Services has a mandate to strengthen and support professional development in the fields of transfusion and transplantation science and medicine to ultimately benefit patients while ensuring donor safety. We are also committed to promoting awareness and education about organ and tissue donation and

The images in this "through the microscope" are from recent work done to determine the best conditions to successfully perform the monocyte monolayer assay—a laboratory-based test that predicts the severity of adverse reactions to blood products. " Mastering the monocyte monolayer assay" is a new ResearchUnit that summarizes the study. Through the microscope From its first description in the 1980s, the monocyte monolayer assay has been modified and optimized. When performed correctly, the level of phagocytosis (ingestion) of red blood cells in the monocyte monolayer assay can help predict the

In the e_rly d_ys of tr_nsfusi_n medicine, d_ct_rs g_ve p_tients _ll s_rts _f different fluids, including _l__d _r milk fr_m _nim_ls. Success v_ried, _nd the results were _ften dis_str_us—even when they used hum_n _l__d.

This post is based on a ResearchUnit originally gathered in April 2016. ResearchUnits summarize recent scientific publications. They are produced and distributed by Canadian Blood Services’ Centre for Innovation. There are public health concerns around the use of DEHP in blood bags, particularly for pediatric patients. This study shows a less toxic compound called DINCH may be a viable alternative. From bottles to plastic… Over 50 years ago, plastic replaced glass as the container of choice for collection and storage of blood and blood products. This greatly improved the safety of blood for

For this instalment of "meet the researcher" we caught up with Dr. William Sheffield a senior scientist with Canadian Blood Services' Centre for Innovation. How long have you been with Canadian Blood Services? I’ve been with Canadian Blood Services since before it existed! I joined our predecessor organization, the Canadian Red Cross Society, as a postdoctoral fellow, training with the legendary Dr. Mo Blajchman, in 1989, and never left. What’s your role? I’m a senior scientist within the Centre for Innovation with an active research program. I also have an administrative role as associate

“It’s a Canadian tradition to push blood as far forward as possible in the safest possible way.” There’s a long, rich history of military blood transfusion and Canadians have been at the front and centre of this field since WWI. Getting blood where it’s most needed is a challenge at the best of times, but getting it to soldiers injured in combat is an extraordinary feat. The Canadian Forces Health Services (Defence Research Development Canada) in collaboration with Canadian Blood Services have conducted some exciting research over the past decade. Their work is aimed at pushing blood as far