"Because of having to have multiple blood transfusions, my child developed abnormal antibodies and had to have selective blood transfusions (phenotype blood). It is thanks to the precious blood drops from a phenotype-compatible blood donor that my child is alive today. My family would like to send our deepest thanks to the blood donors who saved my child's life."
Ms. Nong Thi Thiem emotionally sent her thanks to the blood donor who matched her daughter's phenotype.
Those were the emotional shares of Ms. Nong Thi Thiem at the program Meeting typical phenotype compatible blood donors in 2025 which took place on November 29 at the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion.
At the program, the mother also had the opportunity to express her heartfelt thanks to the phenotype compatible blood donors and expressed her wish, "I hope the Institute will find more and more phenotype compatible blood donors to help patients who need multiple blood transfusions have a chance to live."
Attending the program were Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Ngoc Que, Director of the National Blood Center - National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, leaders of units under the Center and nearly 100 typical phenotype compatible blood donors.
The Phenotype Compatible Blood Donor Meeting Program is an annual event held at the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion to honor blood donors with special blood types.
Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Ngoc Que, Director of the National Blood Center, spoke.
Leaders of units under the National Blood Center and nearly 100 typical phenotype-compatible blood donors attended the program.
"We are always ready to send our blood to patients in need"
In the list of nearly 100 outstanding blood donors honored in 2025, there are many people who have donated blood more than 30 or 40 times, many of whom live dozens of kilometers away from the Institute such as in Me Linh, Soc Son, even in provinces outside Hanoi such as Bac Ninh, Hung Yen, Ninh Binh...
But those silent heroes did not mind the long distance, regardless of hot or cold days, always ready to arrange their work to donate blood at the call of the Institute, which is also the call of the patients, the call of the heart.
At the program, many phenotype compatible blood donors shared their feelings and wishes on their humanitarian journey for the sick.
Ms. Truong Thi Thu Ha and Mr. Tran Ngoc The shared at the program.
Attending the program for the first time, Ms. Truong Thi Thu Ha (29 years old, in Hanoi) was very moved when listening to the patients' sharing.
Ms. Ha has been donating blood since she was a student. Two years ago, her father was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and was treated at the Department of Hematology, National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, and he also received donated blood.
Through that, she understands more about the dedication of the doctors and nurses of the Institute and the meaning of each unit of blood to the patients.
Therefore, when the Institute called for phenotype-compatible blood donations for a patient with thalassemia, she did not hesitate to come to the Institute to share her blood.
She said, "I was quite surprised and touched when I learned that phenotype blood is very necessary for patients but not everyone has it, and I myself have that blood type to treat a specific patient."
As a police officer with a very busy job, Mr. Tran Ngoc The still arranges to go to the Institute to donate blood after work hours.
He said: "We give but do not expect anyone to receive, because if no one receives, it means those people are healthy and do not need our blood drops. But at any time, we are ready to send our small drops of blood to patients when needed."
With those words shared, the program Meeting Typical Phenotype Compatible Blood Donors is no longer simply an event to show gratitude to blood donors, but has become a bridge between donors and recipients of precious blood units.
From then on, each patient feels warmer and more confident knowing that there are always doctors and strangers ready to accompany and share life with them, even though the journey to find blood is not easy...
On behalf of the patients who received blood, the National Blood Center and the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion respectfully acknowledge and express our deepest and most sincere thanks to the blood donors who have always cared for, supported and accompanied the patients.
Mobilizing blood donors with compatible blood phenotypes still faces many difficulties...
In his speech at the program, Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Ngoc Que, Director of the National Blood Center, said that in 2025 alone, the National Blood Center and the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion received 3,394 expected phenotypic compatible blood units from treatment facilities.
"The amount of blood available in the warehouse is 1,546 units, which only meets about 45% of the demand. The remaining amount (55%) must be searched for and mobilized directly by the Center from blood donors - the delegates present in the hall today," said Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Ngoc Que.
Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Ngoc Que also shared that during the year, the Public Relations Department of the National Blood Center contacted and invited people to participate in phenotype blood donation and 2,193 people agreed to participate.
However, due to many objective reasons such as sudden work or not meeting the conditions to donate blood at the time of examination and testing, we have only received 1,750 successful blood donations (80%).
On behalf of the patients who received blood, the National Blood Center and the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion respectfully acknowledge and express our deepest and most sincere thanks to the blood donors who have always cared for, supported and accompanied the patients.
The leaders of the National Blood Center also said that mobilizing people to donate phenotypic compatible blood is still facing many difficulties. On average, patients need to receive phenotypic compatible blood transfusion once a month, but blood donors must be 12 weeks old before they are eligible to donate blood again.
On the other hand, the cost of testing for all blood group antigens is quite high, and the State does not have a financial support mechanism, making it difficult to expand the source of blood donors.
However, over the years, the National Blood Center and patients have always received companionship and support from many phenotype blood donors.
Blood has a particularly important role in emergency care and patient treatment, but in many cases requiring blood transfusion, phenotype-compatible blood is even more important.
In October 2024, the International Society of Blood Transfusion recognized that there are 47 red blood cell blood group systems with 366 different blood group antigens. With the diversity of blood group antigens, it is very difficult to find two individuals with exactly the same blood group antigens. The more blood transfusions a patient receives, the more likely they are to be exposed to foreign antigens and the higher the risk of developing abnormal antibodies.
At that time, transfusion of ABO and Rh(D) compatible blood is not enough, but it is necessary to transfuse blood compatible with antigens of other blood group systems, also known as phenotype compatible blood transfusion. The diversity of blood group antigens is an extremely big challenge for the medical industry, especially the field of blood transfusion in the emergency and treatment of patients with rare blood groups and needing phenotype compatible blood transfusion.
Source: https://suckhoedoisong.vn/nhung-chien-binh-tham-lang-khong-ngai-duong-xa-dem-ngay-hien-giot-mau-hoa-hop-cuu-nguoi-169251129163554098.htm
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