First patients with inherited blood disorders to get world-first NHS test to curb transfusion side effects

First patients with inherited blood disorders to get world-first NHS test to curb transfusion side effects

From Monday 22 January, thousands of people with sickle cell disorder and thalassaemia in England will have access a world-first ‘blood matching’ genetic test on the NHS to better match their blood transfusions, reducing the risk of side effects and offering more personalised care.

This means that the NHS becomes the first healthcare system in the world to provide a new blood group genotyping test which is set to transform care for patients living with sickle cell disorder and thalassaemia, with almost 18,000 people in England now being eligible.

Professor Dame Sue Hill, Chief Scientific Officer for NHS England said: “This world-first blood group genotyping test enables us to provide extended blood group typing for people living with sickle cell disorder, thalassaemia and transfusion-dependant rare anaemias and will help us find the best compatible blood for transfusion. This is an example of the NHS embracing innovation and utilising science to transform patient care.”

Click below for the full press release.