NHSBT and NHSE blood testing programme – sickle cell and thalassaemia

June 17, 2024

Nurses can offer extended blood group testing to everyone with sickle cell, thalassaemia, and transfusion dependent rare anaemias.

Patients can give a sample at a routine appointment to enable DNA-based testing of extended blood groups. That will enable better blood matching in the future, reducing the risk of antibody formation.

The support of haemoglobinopathy nurses is vital because of their close relationships with people affected.

NHS England and NHS Blood and Transplant are working in partnership on the testing programme, which started in January and is currently free to hospitals.

Find out more here.