At 5 a.m., when the streets of Hanoi were still shrouded in cold fog, a hectic day began for the Blood Storage and Distribution Department of the National Blood Center, National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion.
Pharmacist Nguyen Hoang Minh sits next to the storage containers and performs a final check on each blood bag before it is loaded onto the truck. More than 500 units of blood and blood products are being transported to provincial hospitals today, where many patients are awaiting life-saving blood transfusions.
In the days leading up to Tet (Vietnamese New Year), blood demand increases while the number of donors decreases. According to the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, needs reached 40,000 units of blood in February alone to supply more than 180 hospitals in the north and support some regions in the south.
The institute is appealing to the population to donate an additional 10,000 blood units, with at least 5,000 blood group 0 units urgently needed. Every blood donation campaign is therefore of utmost importance.
In the storage area, the storage containers are neatly stacked on the vehicle. Pharmacist Minh explained that every type of blood product needs to be stored at a certain temperature.
Erythrocyte concentrates are stored at a temperature between 2 and 6 degrees Celsius. During transport the temperature must be kept between 1 and 10 degrees Celsius. Containers containing this preparation are always covered with a layer of ice to dissipate the heat downwards and thus ensure a stable temperature.
Plasma products, meanwhile, must be stored at temperatures of -18°C or below. Containers of plasma are filled with additional ice and stored separately, not with other products.
“Even slight temperature fluctuations can cause the blood to spoil and become unusable. Therefore, proper storage during transportation is crucial,” Minh said as he checked the lids of the containers and noted the quantities.
This morning, blood supplies will be delivered to four hospitals along the route from Phu Tho to Lao Cai.
At 5:30 a.m. the special transporter drove out of the gate of the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion. At the wheel was Mr Nguyen Tan Giang, a driver with experience in long-distance transport of blood supplies.
Today’s bus route is as follows: Phuc Yen General Hospital, Vinh Phuc Children’s Hospital, Vinh Phuc General Hospital and the final stop is Lao Cai Provincial Hospital No. 1.
After driving for more than an hour, the vehicle arrived at Phuc Yen General Hospital.
The transport team handed over 39 bags each containing 350 ml of erythrocyte concentrate and 13 bags each containing 250 ml of erythrocyte concentrate. The largest group (25 bags) consisted of blood group O. A bag with fresh frozen plasma was also handed over.
The medical staff checks and acknowledges receipt of the blood and stores it in the hospital. These blood units can be used for emergencies, surgeries or treatments on the same day.
Blood is a special biological product that cannot currently be produced or synthesized completely artificially in the laboratory. The blood used in medicine today mainly comes from voluntary blood donors, is then examined and separated into various products for treatment.
The vehicle left Phuc Yen and continued to Vinh Phuc Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital.
Postpartum bleeding is one of the most common causes of death in mothers. Many women lose a lot of blood very quickly during or after childbirth. Timely blood transfusions and blood products are therefore crucial for the life of mother and child.
The next destination was the Vinh Phuc General Hospital. A total of 88 units of blood and blood products were delivered there, including fresh frozen plasma, packed red blood cells, apheresis platelet packs and cryoprecipitate-rich plasma.
Each type of blood product serves different patient groups: patients with severe anemia, cancer patients who require platelets, or patients with blood clotting disorders. Timely distribution allows hospitals to proactively treat patients without waiting for blood deliveries from higher-level facilities.
In the days leading up to Tet (Vietnamese New Year), emergencies, surgeries and treatments for chronic illnesses continue unabated. Therefore, blood reserves in provincial hospitals need to be constantly replenished.
The car started moving again.
In the cab, driver Giang occasionally checks the temperature control panel in the rear cargo area. The temperature in the storage compartments must always be stable to ensure the quality of the blood.
“This is the temperature control panel for the blood storage compartment at the back. I check it regularly to ensure that the temperature does not fluctuate as this could affect the quality of the blood. Otherwise the blood bags would spoil quickly and waste would occur,” the driver explained.
After many hours of driving along long roads, the vehicle arrived at Lao Cai No. 1 General Hospital. This was the largest blood donation location on the trip.
Here the transport team handed over 250 units of red blood cells and 60 bags of plasma. The blood supplies were immediately unloaded and taken to the hospital warehouse.
“Every blood unit that arrives at the right time can help patients survive critical situations. Therefore, transport must be carried out promptly and under correct storage conditions,” said pharmacist Minh.
In the days leading up to Tet (Vietnamese New Year), when the need for blood increases, these trucks roll tirelessly. Behind every loading area lies the chance of survival for many patients waiting for blood transfusions in provincial hospitals.
“Just the fact of showing up on time and completing the handover gives me a sense of relief. Patients are waiting for blood, so I can’t afford to be late,” pharmacist Minh said of his duties.
Foto: Minh Nhat
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date: 2026-02-11 02:31:00
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