Use It or Lose It: The Shelf Life of Blood

Blood is a living tissue, and like all perishable goods, it has an expiry date. This is why we need a constant supply of donors, not just once a year.

The Expiry Clock

• Platelets: 5 Days only. They must be kept at room temperature (22°C) under constant agitation. This is the biggest inventory challenge.
• Red Blood Cells: 35 to 42 Days. Stored at 2-6°C in a refrigerator.
• Plasma: 1 Year. If frozen at -30°C within hours of collection, it lasts a long time.

This is why mass donation drives on one day (like a birthday) often lead to wastage. Regular, spread-out donations are far better.