Red Book
Guidelines for the Blood Transfusion and Tissue Transplantation Services in the UK
The guidelines in the Red Book apply to the donation and preparation of materials derived from blood, tissue and stem cells by the UK Blood and Tissue Services for therapeutic and diagnostic use.
They reflect an expert view of current best practice, provide specifications for products and components, and describe technical details of processes.
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Annexes
Annex 1
NIBSC standards available from MHRA
Annex 2
ISBT 128 check character calculation
Annex 3
Provisional component specifications
Annex 4
Redundant component specifications
Annex 5
Contingency component specifications
Annex 6
Advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs)
Annex 7
Requirements for timing of testing of haemopoetic progenitor cells
Latest updates
| Change number | Title | Updated | Guidelines affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 33-2026 | Lymphopenia and platelet apheresis donation (PDF only, 203KB) | 17 September 2026 | |
| 22-2026 | Cold-stored Platelets, in Additive Solution and Plasma, Leucocyte Depleted (PDF only, 203KB) | 19 August 2026 | |
| 23-2026 | Platelets, Apheresis, in Additive Solution and Plasma, Leucocyte Depleted (PDF only, 253KB) | 19 August 2026 | |
| 24-2026 | Updates to consent guidance (chapters 6 and 8) (PDF only, 203KB) | 19 August 2026 | |
| 25-2026 | Microbiology tests for donors and donations (chapter 9) (PDF only, 459KB) | 19 August 2026 |