The scientific workforce plays a vital role in the healthcare system and is supported by the Blood Matters scientist.
Blood Matters aims to:
- assist with education and resources to support transfusion scientists (with best practice in the areas of blood management)
- ensure compliance with national guidelines and standards.
On the Bench and Beyond newsletter is published every 3 months. All issues are available for download.
Guidelines and standards from the Australian and New Zealand Society of Blood Transfusion (ANZSBT), National Blood Authority (NBA) and others have also been provided.
STOP the waste festive campaign
The ‘STOP the waste’ festive campaign began in 2015 -16 to raise awareness of RBC waste reduction over the festive period (November-February) when there had traditionally been a decrease in services across health organisations (prior to the COVID-19 pandemic).
While a reduction in services over the festive period no longer tends to exist, the ‘STOP the waste’ festive campaign continues to be successful in keeping blood wastage minimisation at the forefront of minds, and in celebrating the donor’s gift over this period. It serves as a timely reminder to monitor and respond to changes in health services activities that impact on blood use and adjust stock or staff responsibilities accordingly.
Donated blood is a precious gift, and we all need to do our part to protect and manage this valuable resource.
Let’s celebrate the donor’s precious gift this festive season and beyond.
For more information, see the Blood component wastage page.
On the Bench and Beyond newsletter
- Blood Matters on the Bench and Beyond November 2024Blood Matters on the Bench and Beyond November 2024Blood Matters on the Bench and Beyond September 2024Blood Matters on the Bench and Beyond September 2024Blood Matters on the Bench and Beyond May 2024Blood Matters on the Bench and Beyond May 2024Blood Matters on the Bench and Beyond February 2024Blood Matters on the Bench and Beyond February 2024
- Blood Matters on the Bench and Beyond November 2023Blood Matters on the Bench and Beyond November 2023Blood Matters on the Bench and Beyond August 2023Blood Matters on the Bench and Beyond August 2023Blood Matters on the Bench and Beyond May 2023Blood Matters on the Bench and Beyond May 2023Blood Matters on the Bench and Beyond February 2023Blood Matters on the Bench and Beyond February 2023
- Blood Matters on the Bench and Beyond November 2022 (Word)Blood Matters on the Bench and Beyond November 2022Blood Matters on the Bench and Beyond July 2022 (Word)Blood Matters on the Bench and Beyond July 2022Blood Matters on the Bench and Beyond April 2022 (Word)Blood Matters on the Bench and Beyond April 2022Blood Matters on the Bench and Beyond February 2022 (Word)Blood Matters on the Bench and Beyond February 2022
- Blood Matters on the Bench and Beyond October 2021Blood Matters on the Bench and Beyond October 2021Blood Matters on the Bench and Beyond July 2021Blood Matters on the Bench and Beyond April 2021Blood Matters on the Bench and Beyond April 2021Blood Matters on the Bench and Beyond February 2021 (Word)Blood Matters on the Bench and Beyond February 2021
- Blood Matters on the Bench and Beyond Oct 2020Blood Matters on the Bench and Beyond Oct 2020Blood Matters on the Bench and Beyond July 2020Blood Matters on the Bench and Beyond July 2020Blood Matters on the Bench and Beyond April 2020Blood Matters on the Bench and Beyond April 2020Blood Matters on the Bench and Beyond January 2020Blood Matters on the Bench and Beyond January 2020
National standards and guidelines
Australian and New Zealand Society of Blood Transfusion (ANZSBT)
- ANZSBT Guidelines for Transfusion and Immunohaematology Laboratory Practice
- ANZSBT Guidelines for Laboratory Estimation of Fetomaternal Haemorrhage
- ANZSBT Transfusion management of patients treated with monoclonal antibody (Mab) therapies that interfere with immunohaematology testing
- ANZSBT Extended Life Plasma: A framework for preparation, storage and use
- ANZSBT Guidelines for the Prevention of Transfusion-Associated Graft-Versus-Host Disease (TA-GVHD)
- ANZSBT Guidance for RHD non-invasive prenatal testing (RHD NIPT) for fetal RhD blood group prediction in pregnancy
- ANZSBT Guidelines for the Implementation and Use of Electronic Medical Records for Transfusion
- ANZSBT Guidelines for the Administration of Blood Products
- ANZSBT Guidelines for the Prescription of Blood and Blood Products by Nurse Practitioners
ANZSBT Positions and Consensus
- ANZSBT Evolve Top-5 Recommendations on low-value practices
- ANZSBT/ARCBS consensus statement on use and allocation of Kell negative red cells
- Transporting blood and blood products to a patient's bedside
- Considerations for pretransfusion immunohaematology testing in patients receiving the anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody daratumumab for the treatment of multiple myeloma
- National Statement for the Emergency Use of Group O Red Blood Cells
- Preoperative Autologous Donation (PAD)
National Blood Authority
- Group O negative red blood cell management, including download of the National Statement for the Emergency Use of Group O Red Blood
- National Blood Authority - National Blood Management Improvement Strategy (previously - Wastage reduction strategy) -
- National Blood Authority - Inventory management for blood and blood
Other
- National Pathology Accreditation Advisory Council (NPAAC) Requirements for transfusion laboratory
- Standards Australia - AS 3864.2-2012 Medical refrigeration equipment – for the storage of blood and blood products, Part 2 -
- Australian Health Ministers’ Conference Statement on National Stewardship Expectations for the Supply of Blood and Blood Products (PDF) -
- National Safety and Quality in Health Service Standards Second edition Blood Management Standard - and PDF
Acknowledgements
The Blood Matters Program would like to acknowledge everyone who has contributed to the success of the project so far:
- Health and pathology services throughout Victoria.
- Department of Health Victoria.
- Australian Red Cross Lifeblood.
- South Australian BloodMove Project.
- BloodSafe.
- The National Blood Authority.
Some of these strategies on this page are guided by the South Australian BloodMove project and the National Blood Authority Inventory management for blood and blood .
Reviewed 27 May 2025