The high‑tech and advanced blood donation service today is attributed to the untiring work of a group of professionals behind-the-scenes. With their dedication and support, the tasks of blood collection, testing, storage and delivery could be effectively accomplished and lives can be saved. How much do you know about the work and experience of these nameless heroes?

 

Mobile Blood Collection Team

Selena Chan
Assistant Recruitment and Publicity Officer @ BTS

“I am responsible for the liaison and coordination of schedule, venue, management and logistics of group donation events organised with schools or corporates. On the day of group donation, I also look after crowd control, pacify anxious donors and promote the message of blood donation. In an earlier group donation occasion in a university, I helped mobilise new donors with my sales technique acquired in the past. I told a student, ‘Your schoolmates are giving blood to save others’ lives. How can we do it without you?’ The student left but later returned with his friend and both donated blood. The power of peer influence is indeed immense!”

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Blood donor

Dr Patrick So
Service Resident @ BTS

“I donated blood for the first time in 1994 and have a record donation of 223 times (42 whole blood donations, 181 Apheresis donations). It was not an unforgettable experience. Maybe my vein is big enough, blood can be drawn easily. Being a regular donor, I am emotionally attached to BTS. This June, I joined BTS from Department of Family Medicine of Tuen Mun Hospital. Instead of seeing patients every day at work, I now handle blood and work on motivating more blood donors. I hope blood donation can become everyone’s habit one day.”

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Registered Nurse

Carmen Lau
Registered Nurse @ BTS

“I am responsible for assessing health conditions, arranging haemoglobin tests, health screening for blood donors and also health education. Having worked here for 20 years, I am impressed by some blood donors who continuously donate blood until their retirement age. When BTS issues urgent appeals, they actively respond to give blood and wait for our service with patience. Some of them have become my friends now. When they pass‑by donor centres, they often come in to say hi!”

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Medical Technologist

Isabella Chan
Associate Medical Technologist @ BTS

“I work in the BTS reference laboratory. My major duty is testing the blood of rare blood types, like type A- and B-. The antigens in blood samples are tested manually to ensure the blood donated is suitable for patients’ use, especially transfusion-dependent patients, like those with thalassaemia major. The precious blood of rare blood type is frozen with glycerol. When stock runs low, donors of rare blood type are invited to give blood. One of my most unforgettable experiences at BTS is an instance when the blood bank ran short of a very rare blood type. We sought help from an international blood bank in the United States and at the same time we looked for donors in Hong Kong. Fortunately, a suitable donor was found before the surgery. I have donated whole blood for eight times. Although my haemoglobin level is at a marginal level, I still try to give blood. I am overjoyed when I see my blood passes all tests and can be sent to hospital for patients’ use.”

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Patient Care Assistant

Judy Li
Patient Care Assistant @ BTS

“I am responsible for blood components stratification and storage. Red blood cells, buffy coat (white blood cells) and plasma are stored at different temperatures, and platelets are stored in a platelet agitator for analysis and labelling. Working here, I observe the process of testing, handling and distribution of blood. I am a donor of whole blood for seven times. I remember my first time donating blood that I was under 18 and needed my parent’s endorsement. My work at BTS makes me realise how blood donation spreads love and light up others’ lives.”

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Haematologist in Blood Bank

Dr Kate Leung
Associate Consultant Haematologist @ Princess Margaret Hospital

“In daily operation of the blood bank, I am responsible for keeping inventory and storage of blood products, providing pre‑transfusion compatibility testing, reporting antibody investigation and transfusion reaction. We also provide 24-hour consultation to clinicians and blood banks in our cluster hospitals. Every drop of blood is precious and means a lot to patients. We have regular meetings with other departments on blood bank policies on delivery, storage and usage to ensure the provision of quality blood for patients. I donate whole blood twice a year since university. To ensure I can successfully donate blood every time, I exercise regularly, get enough sleep and maintain a healthy iron level in my diet. I also donate blood before travelling to places where blood donation may be suspended after returning from the trip.”