Angela Oakman – Blood Components and Shelf Life: Every Donation Has a Deadline
Angela Oakman, Clinical Research Consultant at AK Clinical Research, posted on LinkedIn:
”In light of the unprecedented blood donation volume this past week, I wondered, how long does donor blood actually last?
Not as long as most people think and it depends on the component it’s broken down into prior to storage.
Here’s the reality:
– Red blood cells: 35–42 days (refrigerated)
– Platelets: just 5–7 days (room temp, constant agitation)
– Plasma: up to 12 months (frozen)
– Frozen red cells (rare types): up to 10 years
Blood isn’t a single product; one donation becomes multiple lifesaving therapies, each with its own shelf life. For components like platelets, the expiry window is measured in days, not weeks.
That’s why regular blood donation matters (can you hear me at the back?)
If you’re eligible, book and Donate Blood today.
If you’ve donated before, schedule your next appointment, do this ideally before you even leave the donor centre!
If you can’t donate, encourage someone who can, or consider raising funds or donating your time to this life-saving service.
Because every donation has a clock on it and every unit counts.
My December donation is done and dusted, just days before the tragedy in Bondi, and my March donation is already booked. Donating now is good, donating regularly is great. To all those first-time blood donors who rolled up their sleeves this week, I urge you to return, I urge you to be great.”
Stay updated with Hemostasis Today.
-
Aug 23, 2026, 17:51Gurpreet Kaurr: A Proud Milestone in Haematology and Oncology
-
Aug 23, 2026, 17:33Kathrine Kaspersen: How Voluntary Plasma Donors Helped Transform Denmark’s Plasma Supply
-
Aug 23, 2026, 16:51Sthanu Subramanian: Empagliflozin and a Rise in Hematocrit
-
Aug 23, 2026, 16:50Lale Tokgözoğlu: New PCSK9i Research Published in the European Heart Journal
-
Aug 23, 2026, 16:44Eric Gehrie: Your 2026 Guide to the Essentials of Transfusion Medicine
-
Aug 23, 2026, 16:35Thomas Dayspring: The Overlooked Pathway in Cholesterol Homeostasis
-
Aug 23, 2026, 16:28Evan Mapelu: The People Who Make Cancer Care Meaningful
-
Aug 23, 2026, 16:09Felice Gragnano: New Publication on Aspirin Discontinuation After PCI for Acute Coronary Syndromes
-
Aug 23, 2026, 16:06Mostafa Faisal: Donor Type and Long-Term Quality of Life After HCT for Severe Aplastic Anemia