Department of Health

Provision of emergency use red blood cells to Ambulance Victoria

Ambulance Victoria have standardised the procedure for requesting blood components in rural and regional Victoria.

Ambulance Victoria paramedics will now make all requests for blood components through Adult Retrieval Victoria (ARV).

The ARV Clinical Coordinator (ARV CC) a consultant physician contacts the most suitable health service or transfusion laboratory to arrange for blood component pickup at an agreed time and location.

The Ambulance Victoria procedure for emergency blood component pick up from regional and rural health services covers:

  • appropriate cold chain management
  • actions for unused blood components
  • traceability and audit processes.

No changes have been made to the use or administration of blood components by paramedics.

Blood Matters has developed a presentation detailing the blood component packing process.

Management of blood components by Ambulance Victoria

The location of emergency use group O red blood cells (RBC) across Victoria will be accessed by the ARV CC through secure information-sharing with the existing Blood Matters database.

Please ensure Blood Matters is kept informed of any changes to emergency group O RBC inventory holdings, including at satellite locations.

To assist health service staff, 3 resources have been developed including a flowchart, shipping configuration instructions, and a shipping label.

  • Flowchart
  • Shipping configuration instructions
  • Shipping label

Accessibility disclaimer: The Department of Health is committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless of technology or ability. These document may not meet our minimum WCAG AA Accessibility standards. If you are unable to read any of the content of this page, you can contact the content owners for an Accessible version at bloodmatters@redcrossblood.org.au.

Reviewed 29 September 2025

Health.vic

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Blood Matters Program Australian Red Cross Lifeblood

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