Blood products
Whole blood donations are separated into red blood cells, platelets and plasma within 24 hours. We manufacture the blood products needed by patients and supply plasma separated from whole blood for medicines manufacture. We distribute blood products and octaplasLG plasma medicinal products to hospitals.
A total of 150,319 red blood cell products were sold to hospitals, which was 4.1% less than in the previous year. A total of 27,088 platelet products were sold for patient use, representing an increase of 2.2%. The Blood Service also distributes octaplasLG frozen plasma medicines and octaplasLG-AB dry plasma medicines for use in emergency care to hospitals. The number of medicines distributed decreased by 1.8% from the previous year.
The Blood Service supplies plasma separated from whole blood to its contractual partner Takeda for the manufacture of plasma medicinal products. Plasma collection has been increased in European countries because insufficient self-sufficiency has been identified as a risk to the availability of plasma medicinal products. In 2024, the Blood Service began collecting plasma from blood donors at its Vantaa facility. As a result, the Blood Service was able to increase in 2025 its plasma supply for medicines manufacture by 2.4% compared to the previous year, even though the amount of plasma collected from whole blood decreased at the same time.
In the first half of 2025, the Blood Service began bacterial culture of platelet products. This innovation improved the safety of blood products and patients and extended the shelf life of platelet products from five to seven days. The extended shelf life increased flexibility in blood product logistics and inventory management and reduced product waste.
In November, the Oulu blood service warehouse moved to new premises together with the Nordlab Oulu blood centre. The modern facility ensures the supply of blood products to hospitals in Northern Finland and close cooperation with the university hospital’s blood centre.
The blood supply chain must continue uninterrupted, so ensuring operations in all situations and circumstances is of paramount importance to us. Together with healthcare providers and our partners, we practised for scenarios such as major accidents and IT system failures.
Blood products for hospitals, sales
| Produkt, enheter | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | change % 2024-2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erytrocyter, fria från vita blodkroppar | 165 550 | 156 705 | 150 319 | -4,1 % |
| Trombocytprodukter, inklusive aferesprodukter | 28 215 | 26 497 | 27 088 | +2,2 % |
Supply of plasma units for medicines manufacture
The Blood Service delivers plasma collected from blood donations and separated from whole blood to its contractual partner (Takeda) for use in medicines manufacture.
| 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Plasma separated from whole blood | 44 725 liters 160 900 units | 44 858 litres 161 400 units |
| Apheresis plasma (plasma donation) | 1 136 liters 1 480 units | 2 081 litres 2 710 units |
| Total plasma material | 45 861 litres | 46 939 litres |
Use of donated whole blood for preparation of blood products
| Red blood cells | Platelets** | |
|---|---|---|
| Products used in blood transfusions | 92 % | 83 % |
| Removals related to blood donation, laboratory results and the manufacturing process | 5 % | 3 % |
| Others not used for blood transfusions (expired, returned or supplied for medicines manufacture) | 3 %* | 14 % |
* Red blood cells not used for blood transfusion are delivered as raw material for a medicine intended for the treatment of porphyria.
** Proportion of platelet products, manufactured only from a portion of blood donations
Blood is used effectively in patient care in Finland. Red blood cell products are usable for five weeks and platelets for seven days after blood donation. There are more expired products in platelets. Insufficient stocks jeopardise the ability to respond.