Sourcing fresh blood products

The Australian Red Cross Lifeblood(Opens in a new tab/window) (Lifeblood) is a division of the Australian Red Cross Society (the Australian Red Cross) and is the sole provider of fresh blood products in Australia. Lifeblood collects all blood and plasma in Australia by donation.

Donated fresh blood is separated into 3 parts for medical use:

  • red blood cells
  • platelets
  • plasma.

This separation is done through a simple process called centrifugation, which spins the blood to separate it into these parts. Red blood cells and platelets are also filtered to remove white blood cells.

Although white blood cells are important in fighting infection, they are removed through a process known as leucodepletion to prevent adverse reactions in a blood product recipient.

For more information on how the National Blood Authority work together, please visit the Fresh blood product supply and Lifeblood page.

How fresh blood products are used

Red blood cells

Red blood cells carry oxygen and remove waste products such as carbon dioxide. Red blood cell transfusions can be used for people who:

  • have cancer and other blood diseases
  • are having surgery
  • have anaemia
  • are giving birth
  • have lost large amounts of blood due to trauma.

Learn more from Lifeblood about:

Platelets

Platelets help with blood clotting and tissue repair. Patients with a low platelet count or problems with platelet function need platelet transfusions. This includes people who:

  • have cancer and are receiving chemotherapy
  • are undergoing bone marrow transplantation
  • have liver disease
  • are taking medicines that interfere with platelet function
  • are bleeding.

Learn more from Lifeblood about:

Plasma

Plasma is the liquid part of blood that is mostly made of water. Plasma carries blood cells and other substances such as important clotting factors around our bodies.

Lifeblood produces 3 types of plasma products – fresh frozen plasma, cryoprecipitate, and cryodepleted plasma.

Lifeblood also supplies plasma to CSL Behring(Opens in a new tab/window), which manufactures products from fractionated blood plasma.

Learn more about how we source plasma and plasma recombinant products.

Fresh frozen plasma (clinical plasma)

Fresh plasma can be frozen after collection for storage. It can be used to:

  • replace clotting factors in trauma patients who need a massive transfusion
  • quickly reverse the effects of blood-thinning medications
  • replace missing plasma proteins and other substances.

Learn more from Lifeblood about:

Cryoprecipitate

Cryoprecipitate is the cold-insoluble proteins collected from fresh frozen plasma after thawing. It contains proteins involved in blood clotting, including:

  • fibrinogen
  • Factor VIII
  • Factor XIII
  • von Willebrand factor.

Cryoprecipitate is used when a patient has low levels of clotting proteins, especially fibrinogen, or their fibrinogen isn't working properly. It is often used during a massive transfusion when a patient needs many blood components at once. 

Learn more from Lifeblood about:

Cryodepleted plasma

Cryodepleted plasma is made from fresh frozen plasma after removing the cryoprecipitate. It is mostly used in plasma exchange for patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Learn more from Lifeblood about:

Testing fresh blood for safety

Lifeblood tests donated blood to ensure it is safe to use. This includes mandatory tests for:

  • ABO blood group and RhD type
  • screening for viruses such as HIV and Hepatitis
  • red blood cell antibody screening
  • syphilis.

Platelets are also screened for bacterial contamination. Platelets are stored at room temperature, which means they have a greater risk of growing bacteria than other blood products.

Get in touch

If you have a query about fresh blood products in Australia, please contact us.

Last updated: 24 Mar 2025

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