Sanquin's activities

Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation provides blood supplies and promotes transfusion medicine. Next to collecting blood and providing products and services, Sanquin also carries out research and provides education.

Blood Supply

The Blood Supply Act is intended to strengthen the quality, safety and availability of blood and blood products from unremunerated voluntary donors in the Netherlands. Responsibility for implementation and maintenance of this programme has been entrusted to Sanquin.

Thanks to the generosity of almost 465,000 voluntary donors, it has been possible to achieve an adequate, safe and high quality supply of blood fro the national requirements.

Blood Products

The Plasma Products division processes the plasma supplied by the blood banks into medicines for coagulation and immune disorders. These medicines are called plasma products. Sanquin is a major supplier of medicines for patients in the Netherlands. A variety of isolation techniques produces coagulation factors, protease inhibitors, immunoglobulins and albumin. The division works closely with sister organisations in other countries, such as the Department for Central Fractioning (CAF) in Belgium and the Finnish Red Cross.

Advice

Sanquin manufactures many different products: red blood cell and blood platelet concentrates are just two examples, not to mention the large number of medicines made from plasma, such as clotting factors for haemophilia patients. We also provide doctors, pharmacists and healthcare organisations with expert advice on how best to use our products. Sanquin also conducts diagnostic blood tests, as well
as strategic and applied scientific research.

Monitoring

Sanquin collaborates with scientific associations and professional organisations in the TRIP ('Transfusion Reactions in Patients') Foundation, a nationwide system for the scientific repoting of blood safety in the Netherlands. In 2005 the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport gave approval for a surcharge on the price of blood products, with which the financing of TRIP was guaranteed.

Research

An essential part of Sanquin Research's mission is its fundamental, clinical and applied blood transfusion research in all its facets. One of the main objectives is the development and constant improvement of Sanquin's entire range of products and services.

Education

Our staff members provide education and training to poly-technics and universities, medical specialist training, and schooling for blood transfusion physicians and specialists. Sanquin offers apprenticeships to university students and laboratory technicians. Specialist and post-graduate courses for medical professionals are also available.