Extending shelf-life of donated blood 'could boost supply'

Tor Hervig of IBTS, Ingmar Schoen of RCSI, Allison Waters of IBTS, and James O’Donnell of RCSI at the launch of the new partnership between RCSI and IBTS which aims to make blood products for transfusions more available and more useful for patients. Picture: Conor Healy/Picture It Photography

Extending the shelf-life of donated blood products beyond seven days could increase vital supplies, according to an Irish research project hoping to safely achieve this.

The risk of shortages was seen when an emergency call-out for donors was made on Sunday with only three days' supply of some bloods remaining.