A good donor experience is all about customer service
We conducted a customer satisfaction survey in the spring to find out how donors feel about the Blood Service and what improvements they would like to see going forward. Source
View ArticleSummer holidays and blood donation: things to bear in mind
The Blood Service is responsible for ensuring the safety of blood products and does this by having in place certain safeguards against transfusion-transmitted infections that are often asymptomatic....
View ArticleOne summer weekend requires hundreds of blood products – blood donors needed...
The summer holidays see a decline in the number of visitors to blood donation points, but volunteer donors’ help is vital for patients, no matter what time of year it is. During the course of a single...
View ArticleThe Blood Service is touring Finland: each year more than 1000 blood donation...
The Finnish Red Cross Blood Service (FRCBS) constantly travels to different towns and cities collecting blood from donors who want to help. This summer is no different, with 4–5 events organised each...
View ArticleThe Blood Service will transfer unused cord blood products to the biobank for...
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...
View ArticleThe Blood Service is bringing out certification for workplaces that allow...
The Blood Service’s new workplace certification is a new way in which workplaces can contribute to societal goals. The certificate is awarded to businesses that allow their employees to donate blood...
View ArticleThe Blood Service Research Fund provides support for the development of cell...
This year, the Blood Service Research Fund has decided to award EUR 500,000 in grants to a total of 11 research projects. Source
View ArticleThe fifth season of the Lifesavers’ League is about to start
Will Jokerit face off against series leader TUTO Hockey? The fifth season of the Lifesavers' League, organised by Mestis Hockey and the Finnish Blood Service, will begin on 21.9.2023. This year, a new...
View ArticleThe Finnish Genomics Initiative FinnGen enters its next phase with 52M€ of...
The FinnGen research consortium has successfully collected and generated genomic data from 500,000 individuals. Now, the project will continue its search for genetic clues to disease progression and...
View ArticleThe Blood Service Biobank is studying susceptibility to haemochromatosis
A new pilot project is using samples from donors to investigate susceptibility to haemochromatosis, a disease in which iron accumulates in the body. Source
View ArticleBlood Donation Bus soon calling at stops in the Helsinki metropolitan area
Soon, you will be able to give blood in new surroundings when the Blood Donation Bus rolls into town. The bus, designed specifically for blood donation, will tour the Helsinki metropolitan area,...
View ArticleThe restriction on blood donation concerning men who have sex with men will...
A regulation concerning sexual behaviour issued by the Finnish Medicines Agency Fimea will be introduced in blood donation on 4.12.2023. The regulation changes eligibility criteria to lift the separate...
View ArticleThe Blood Service resumes plasma collection
It will soon be possible to donate plasma at the Blood Service when plasmapheresis will be resumed after a break of several years. There is a shortage of plasma raw material in Europe and the use of...
View ArticleIt will not be possible to donate blood on Independence Day
The Blood Service will be closed on 6 December for Independence Day. Holidays that fall on weekdays increase the need for blood donors on other days of the month as patients still need blood products...
View ArticleOpening hours at Blood Service around Christmas time
Christmas Eve falls on a weekend this year. On Friday 22 December, blood can be donated at the Blood Service's permanent locations and blood donation events at Hyvinkää, Porvoo, Loimaa, Pirkkala and...
View ArticleJan Koski defended his thesis on CAR T cell therapies
Jan Koski, MSc, a project researcher at the Finnish Red Cross Blood Service, defended his doctoral thesis on enhancing CAR T cell therapy at the University of Helsinki’s Faculty of Medicine on Friday...
View ArticleFrom 15.1.2024, you will be able to donate blood at Jumbo-Flamingo in Vantaa
From 15 January 2024, blood donors will be able to donate at the Blood Service’s new site at the Jumbo-Flamingo shopping centre in Vantaa. The new donation site is located on the second floor of the...
View ArticleRecord number of patients helped through the Stem Cell Registry
In 2023, as many as 66 volunteers belonging to the Finnish Stem Cell Registry donated stem cells to unknown patients. The number of donations has increased by as much as 53% in a single year, as there...
View ArticleBlood donation has moved to Vantaa – the aim is to attract more new donors
From 15 January 2024, blood donors will be able to donate at the Blood Service’s new site at the Jumbo-Flamingo shopping centre in Vantaa. The Blood Service hopes that the new, permanent location will...
View ArticleCustomer survey: Healthcare professionals have strong trust in the Blood Service
Healthcare professionals' trust in the Blood Service's products and services and in its ability to manage security of supply for blood products has remained at an excellent level even during periods of...
View ArticleThe Blood Service is producing an innovative cell product for the treatment...
After taking a break, the Blood Service's Advanced Cell Therapy Centre has begun production of an autologous keratinocyte product. The product is a special product that is sprayed onto damaged skin to...
View ArticleThe Blood Service is developing its emergency communications
The Blood Service will test emergency communication tools on its website and in its mobile application on 25 January. The test will not require any action from blood donors. Source
View ArticleLegislative amendment to affect the operations of the Blood Service Biobank
The act regulating the operations of biobanks will change at the beginning of 2024. No new members will be able to join the Blood Service Biobank during January-February 2024. Source
View ArticlePlasma donations started at Blood Service
Blood Service resumes plasma collection after a break of several years. Plasma can be donated at the Blood Service’s Vantaa unit. Source
View ArticleAn expired ID card cannot be used for identification when donating blood from...
As of 1st of March 2024, blood donors can only verify their identity with a valid ID. For example, an expired passport is no longer sufficient to prove identity. Source
View ArticleMore and more work communities are allowing blood donation during working hours
Launched a year ago by the Blood Service, the Workplace Certificate has already been implemented in more than 250 workplaces. The certificate recognises work communities that allow members to donate...
View ArticlePatients still need help from blood donors over Easter
It is important that enough donors lend a helping hand on the days leading up to and immediately after Easter. The Blood Service centres are closed on Good Friday March 29th but open on Easter Monday,...
View ArticleJari Martelin to lead the FRCBS production laboratory
Jari Martelin has been appointed as the new laboratory director of the Finnish Red Cross Blood Service (FRCBS) production laboratory. He will start his position on May 6, 2024. Source
View ArticleThe Blood Service begins testing blood donors for hepatitis E
The Blood Service has started testing blood donors for hepatitis E as hepatitis E infections have increased in Finland in the beginning of this year. There have been no reported cases of hepatitis E...
View ArticleThe application period for Blood Service research grants for 2024 is now open
The application period for 2024 grants from the Blood Service Research Fund has opened to researchers. The purpose of the grants is to support research related to current and future Blood Service...
View ArticleCheck out the annual report 2023
How did we manage to take care of Finland's blood supply last year? In the Blood Service's new annual report 2023, you will find key figures and statistics, as well as reviews of the most important...
View ArticleBlood donors are vital for patients
Blood donors only accounted for just over 3% of all people in the donating age range in Finland last year. Over the past ten years, the proportion has decreased by approximately a percentage point....
View ArticleA Good Samaritan on a motorcycle
For decades, a Finnish motorist association, SMOTO (Suomen Motoristit ry), has been actively encouraging its members to donate blood. Raimo Ryhtä, a motorist and active blood donor from the city of...
View Article5 questions about blood donation and health
New blood donors are needed in order for Finland to have a sufficient amount of blood donors now as well as in the future to secure patient care. Many people considering donating blood need information...
View ArticleWe will need more blood donors than usual in the next few weeks
In the weeks in which May Day and Ascension Thursday fall, the Blood Service’s locations are only open for four days each week. We need more donors than usual on those days to ensure that we can help...
View ArticleBlood Service Kuopio moves to the Shopping Center Minna
At the end of 2024, the Finnish Red Cross Blood Service will open a new donation site on the second floor of the Shopping Center Minna. The current facilities on the other side of the market square in...
View ArticleThe Blood Service is looking for people with a rare blood group – using a...
There are many more different blood groups than the eight basic blood groups taught in school biology textbooks. As the demographic structure changes, so does the need for donors. The Blood Service is...
View ArticleJune 14th is World Blood Donor Day, when we thank voluntary blood donors for...
World Blood Donor Day is celebrated on the 14th of June. The international day raises awareness of the importance of blood donation and thanks blood donors for their contributions. Source
View ArticleFrom July 1 to November 30, travel to Europe may result in a temporary...
The West Nile virus transmission season is starting in Europe. The epidemic will affect blood donation in Finland, as travelling to at-risk areas between 1 July and 30 November will incur a 28-day...
View ArticleThe Blood Service is taking part in the Red Bull Rautaratsu race in Turku
Red Bull Rautaratsu is a free family event where teams attempt to reach the finish line on self-built tandem bikes on an obstacle course constructed over the Aurajoki River. Come and cheer on the Blood...
View ArticleLastOnline Brings Blood Service to Assembly
The joint blood donation campaign for gamers and e-sports enthusiasts, LastOnline, will also be present at Assembly! Assembly Summer 2024 will be held at Helsinki's Messukeskus from August 1-4, 2024....
View ArticleMore than 20,000 new blood donors are needed this year – helping others is easy
In the first half of 2024, a total of 68,406 people signed up for blood donation, which resulted in more than 85,000 donations. By the end of June, 8,761 new blood donors had donated blood. This year,...
View ArticleMen want blood donation to be easy
According to a recent survey by Blood Service, men who donate blood are motivated not only by their desire to help, but also by the smoothness and ease of blood donation. More men are needed as blood...
View ArticleeOmistaja and City Dev Labs donate smart tags to blood donors
With the smart Return Me tags service, a person who has found a lost property item is able to connect directly with the owner of the item. Source
View ArticleExtracellular vesicles isolated from blood cells aids medical research
The product development team at the Finnish Red Cross Blood Service has developed a method to isolate extracellular vesicles (EV) generated by blood cells. Vesicles can be used to aid medical research...
View Article“Getting a stem cell transplant means the world”
World Marrow Donor Day will be celebrated on Saturday 21 September 2024. Each year, around 100 patients in Finland need a blood stem cell transplant from a voluntary donor. Approximately one in six...
View ArticleAlready 70 doctoral dissertations have been completed at the Blood Service
The Finnish Red Cross Blood Service is already witnessing the completion of the 70th doctoral dissertation as Salla Markkinen, MA, shall defend her dissertation on 27 September 2024 on the development...
View ArticleGarrison donations are the cornerstone of maintaining blood stocks
The Blood Service and the Finnish Defence Forces both play an important role in maintaining preparedness in the society. The organisations also have a long, shared history that dates back to the war...
View ArticleThe Blood Service is developing its emergency communications
The Blood Service will test emergency communication tools on its website and in its mobile application on 11th of October. The test will not require any action from blood donors. Source
View ArticleThe Blood Service Research Fund awards grants for donor research and the...
The Blood Service Research Fund has awarded new research grants for research projects focused on blood and tissue donation, as well as on the compatibility between the recipient and donor. Grants will...
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