Blood Service Biobank

A new pilot project is using samples from donors to investigate susceptibility to haemochromatosis, a disease in which iron accumulates in the body.

The Blood Service has begun a project to utilise unused cord blood products in medical research. In August, approximately one thousand mothers and their children who have donated cord blood will receive a letter from the Blood Service asking them for permission to transfer the donated cord blood to the Blood Service’s biobank.

The Blood Service’s valuable Biobank, which is celebrating its 5th anniversary, already contains information on over 58,000 blood donors. Samples collected through blood donation lay the foundation for research focusing on disease prevention and identification of disease mechanisms.