Extending the journey of life

At the Hematology and Blood Transfusion Department of Tuyen Quang Provincial General Hospital, every unit of blood donated by the public undergoes a strict process of reception, testing, screening, separation and storage before being supplied to patients. The work requires medical staff and technicians to maintain a high level of precision at every step, as behind every test sample lies the health and life of a patient.

Leaders of the Hematology and Blood Transfusion Department of the provincial General Hospital inspect the operation of the Gelcard automated blood grouping system.

Each day, the department receives between 1,000 and 1,500 hematology test samples and supplies 90–120 blood products. Patient samples are identified using barcodes and analyzed for testing, screening, blood grouping and cross-matching. All procedures are carried out promptly and accurately to minimize the risk of errors.

According to senior technician Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, who has worked in hematology and blood transfusion for 19 years, the pressure of workload and time is ever-present. However, the most important requirement is to ensure the accuracy of every test result, as each laboratory indicator can directly affect a patient's diagnosis and treatment plan.

Technicians at the Hematology and Blood Transfusion Department of the provincial General Hospital perform the production of red blood cell concentrates and fresh frozen plasma in accordance with quality standards.

In addition to laboratory testing, the Hematology and Blood Transfusion Department operates a closed process covering blood collection, screening for blood-borne pathogens, separation into components such as red blood cells, plasma and platelets, as well as storage and distribution. Each blood unit is assigned an identification code, enabling information to be traced from the donor and collection time through to the testing process.

With more than 14,000 blood units received each year, Dr. Tran Thi Bich Thuy, Deputy Head of the Hematology and Blood Transfusion Department, emphasized that every stage plays an important role in ensuring blood transfusion safety. Blood products are stored in specialized equipment with automated 24/7 temperature monitoring, ensuring they are ready for patients, particularly in emergency cases.

From blood generously donated by the community to the precise professional procedures carried out by doctors, nurses and technicians, the journey of each blood unit continues toward one goal: delivering safe blood to the right patient at the right time, helping save lives and bringing hope of recovery to patients.

Minh Hoa