Blood Transport Equipment System: From Blood Bank to Point of Care

Blood Collection and Pre-Transport Handling

Before blood is moved forward—whether carried by personnel or transported on platforms—it must first be safely collected, screened, and stored at an approved origin point such as a fixed Blood Bank or a Walking Blood Bank (WBB), where pre-identified personnel serve as live donors in the field. Regardless of source, all collected blood undergoes strict control to ensure compatibility, sterility, and safe storage conditions.

Proper temperature control from the moment of collection is critical. Exposure to temperatures below 1 °C can cause red blood cells to rupture, increasing the risk of haemolytic transfusion reactions. Conversely, temperatures above 6 °C raise the risk of bacterial growth, which may lead to severe complications such as septic shock.

To avoid these risks, collected blood is immediately placed into validated, temperature-stable storage units before being handed over to transport systems. Failure to maintain the correct temperature range can result in discarded units, reduced blood availability, and severe disruption to medical operations in the field. A layered and robust blood transport system—beginning at collection and continuing through to point of care—is essential to guarantee blood safety, treatment continuity, and operational readiness. 

See our solutions below.

Soldier-Carried Transport

Blood transport solutions that are carried directly by medical personnel operating at or close to the point of injury. These systems are designed to support forward medical operations where rapid access to blood products is critical and evacuation timelines are uncertain.

The role is to enable forward blood transport with personnel, ensuring that life-saving blood products are available during early treatment, damage control resuscitation, and prolonged field care scenarios. The equipment must be lightweight, compact, and robust enough to be carried alongside other essential medical gear without limiting mobility or operational effectiveness.

This category consists of passive blood transport equipment optimized for use in austere and dynamic environments, including forward operating areas and temporary operating theatres. Temperature stability, durability, and ease of handling are key requirements, allowing blood products to be safely transported and maintained within required temperature ranges during movement and active operations.

Platform-Based Transport & Storage

Covers blood transport and storage solutions that are integrated into vehicles, containers, or other operational platforms operating in close proximity to medical facilities or forward operating areas. These systems support sustained medical operations by ensuring that whole blood is available, properly conditioned, and ready for immediate use.

The role is platform-based blood transport, storage, and preconditioning. Unlike soldier-carried solutions, these systems are designed to handle larger blood volumes and operate over extended periods, supporting continuous casualty treatment and resupply during ongoing operations.

This category consists of higher-capacity, power-dependent blood transport and storage equipment installed on operational platforms such as ground vehicles, transport containers, or temporary medical facilities. The equipment is designed to maintain strict temperature control, protect blood products during movement, and ensure readiness for rapid distribution to forward medical teams.

Stabilization Point – Role 1 and Role 2 Forward

At a forward stabilization point (Role 1 and Role 2 Forward), the focus shifts from transport to safe storage and immediate availability of blood for trauma resuscitation and damage control surgery. Maintaining correct temperature and ensuring sufficient blood supply are critical to patient survival.

Blood products often arrive from multiple platforms, ground, air, or unmanned systems, and must be consolidated without breaking the cold chain. Stream Defence blood coolers ensure reliable temperature control in austere environments, preserving blood viability and enabling rapid access at the point of care.

By securing both thermal integrity and operational readiness, forward teams can deliver life-saving transfusions without delay.