Blood bags are received from volunteers with golden hearts at the Blood Transfusion Center of Cho Ray Hospital. Each bag of blood is a hope for life for patients in need of treatment and emergency care - especially in the context of a sharp decrease in blood reserves - Photo: THANH HIEP
At the Blood Transfusion Center of Cho Ray Hospital (HCMC), this process takes place every day, with about 100 doctors, nurses and technicians working tirelessly day and night. Tuoi Tre reporters followed them through every step of this process.
Dr. Tran Thanh Tung - head of the hematology department and in charge of the Blood Transfusion Center at Cho Ray Hospital - said that the hospital's blood transfusion center is like a blood "factory", responsible for receiving, screening, preparing and supplying blood and blood products to 5 southeastern provinces, Cho Ray Hospital and a number of hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City.
At the same time, the center also reserves blood for emergency situations such as disasters and wars; and provides irradiated blood for organ transplants - an extremely important step to ensure the safety of the recipient and the transplant.
Dr. Tran Thanh Tung - Head of Hematology Department, Cho Ray Hospital - talks with Tuoi Tre newspaper - Photo: THANH HIEP
"From a bag of whole blood, the center can prepare one or more blood products such as: packed red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma, cryoprecipitate and platelets.
These blood products are stored in a warehouse for daily distribution to hospitals according to plan," Dr. Tung explained, adding that the center has 5 units and is moving towards meeting GMP standards.
Doctor Tung added that the center is currently one of the few places that can receive 100% of 350ml blood bags that meet international standards, while most other places only take 250ml blood bags.
When it was first established, although the Ministry of Health 's target was 75,000 units, the center now receives and processes up to 150,000 units of blood per year.
Currently, the amount of donated blood has decreased by about 50 - 60%, with about 250 - 300 blood bags/day (previously, the average blood bag received was about 500 - 600 blood bags/day). The amount of blood stored in the warehouse has decreased on average each day, to only about 3,000 bags.
The reason is that some localities had to cancel blood donation plans because they had not yet completed the personnel of the Red Cross Society and the blood donation steering committee at the commune and ward levels after the merger.
Despite the reduced blood supply, the center is providing enough blood for hospitals and provinces in the assigned area. However, treating physicians must consider blood transfusions more carefully, prioritizing severe cases, emergencies or urgent surgeries.
Doctor Tung predicts that if the staffing at the commune and ward levels is not completed quickly, the blood supply may decrease for the next 3-6 months, which could affect the treatment and emergency care of patients.
Images of the journey of golden blood drops from donation to transfusion into the patient:
Ms. Le Huynh Nhu (29 years old, living in Ho Chi Minh City) came to donate blood at the center and experienced virtual reality glasses to relax more - Photo: THANH HIEP
Currently, Cho Ray Hospital's Blood Transfusion Center is one of the few places that can receive 100% of 350ml blood bags that meet international standards - Photo: THANH HIEP
After receiving blood bags from donors, they are transferred to the blood product production area. Technicians will separate whole blood bags into blood products for treatment - Photo: THANH HIEP
Whole blood bags will be put into a centrifuge to prepare one or more blood products such as packed red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma, cryoprecipitate and platelets to serve many different purposes - Photo: THANH HIEP
Blood bags will be put into a mechanical plasma separator, using pressure to separate blood components into specialized blood products and separated into separate bags after centrifugation - Photo: THANH HIEP
In addition to the mechanical plasma separator, the center is also equipped with an automatic blood component separator to help separate blood products quickly, increasing the efficiency in preparing blood products - Photo: THANH HIEP
After being extracted from whole blood bags, red blood cells will be put into a specialized freezer with a temperature of 2-6 degrees Celsius for storage, ready when there is a request for blood supply. In the photo: medical technician Huynh Bao Quoc is checking a blood bag stored in the freezer - Photo: THANH HIEP
Blood type O Rh- is one of the rare blood types. Currently, Cho Ray Hospital's Blood Transfusion Center only stores a very small amount to serve emergency cases in special cases - Photo: THANH HIEP
After all the steps, the precious blood bags of the golden hearts will be transfused into patients who are fighting the disease. In the photo: a bag of blood group A Rh+ is being transfused to a female patient who is being treated for leukemia - Photo: THANH HIEP
Every drop of blood donated is a ray of hope lit up. Golden hearts silently donate blood, sending love to save lives that are struggling for life - Photo: THANH HIEP
Be proactive in donating blood when you are healthy enough.
Cho Ray Hospital calls on people with health conditions to proactively donate blood at the hospital's fixed blood donation points or other blood donation centers in Ho Chi Minh City and nationwide, or register to donate blood through the blood donation application.
Blood donation is extremely important to maintain blood reserves and blood security, to ensure treatment and emergency care for patients, especially in the context of blood reserves in many localities that are gradually running out.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/hanh-trinh-giot-mau-vang-cuu-nguoi-o-benh-vien-cho-ray-2025072107142125.htm
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