Blood component packs indicating the presence of latex

August 31, 2018

NHS Blood and Transplant have recently changed the supplier of blood component packs and you may notice some differences in the new packs being issued from June 2018.

Some of these component packs now may show a LATEX symbol. However, we have been assured that this label does not reflect the presence of latex in the pack that reaches the patient.

Blood component packs remain latex free. The new label has been introduced because of a change in labelling regulations and not because the content of the packs has changed.

There is, and has been for many years, a small amount of latex in a section of the blood donation pack that is used for the collection of blood samples for testing. This section of the pack is discarded after blood donation and the latex does not come into contact with the blood for transfusion at any point.

The latex symbol will be obscured by the pack label in most cases, however there may be some packs where it is partially or fully visible.

If you would like any further information please contact a Transfusion Practitioner