The Guide to the preparation, use and quality assurance of blood components (“the Blood Guide”) is a compendium of widely accepted, harmonised, European standards that provide safety, efficacy and quality requirements for the preparation, use and quality control of blood components in Europe and beyond. Updated regularly as a technical appendix to Council of Europe Recommendation No. R(95)15, the Blood Guide collates current scientific information available to provide a comprehensive overview of the most recent advances and technical standards in the blood sector.

The Blood Guide also provides guiding principles to be considered for the donation of blood and blood components and includes the Good Practice Guidelines (GPG) which provide standards for the implementation of quality systems in blood establishments and, where applicable, hospital blood banks. In accordance with European Commission Directive (EU) 2016/1214, the GPG should be taken into account by EU member states in the implementation of quality systems in blood establishments.

The Blood Guide is elaborated by the ad hoc Working Group on the Blood Guide (GTS) composed of dedicated, internationally recognised experts. The GTS works under the aegis of the European Committee on Blood Transfusion (CD-P-TS), the steering committee responsible for blood transfusion activities at the Council of Europe.

The Blood Guide is intended for all professionals working in the donation, collection, testing, processing, storage, distribution and transfusion of blood and blood components, for blood establishments, hospital blood banks and healthcare and regulatory professionals in the blood sector.