Can blood be stockpiled, to be used in times of shortage?
Blood has a relatively short “shelf life.” Red blood cells must be transfused within 42 days and platelets outdate after only 5 days. While certain types of blood which are considered very rare are frozen and kept in reserve, the expense and logisitics of freezing blood on a routine basis are prohibitive. Blood donors are needed every day in order to maintain a consistent supply of this lifesaving medicine.
