Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday opened a VND89.6 billion (US$4.8 million) blood bank said to be the first in Vietnam to meet international standards.

It can also produce all blood components with high productivity, meeting the demand in the southern city as well as other localities, he added.

Of particular importance was the bank can store rare blood types in good condition for over ten years, Binh said.

He said this technology allowed them to call for donors with rare blood types to contribute blood periodically instead of asking for asking form them when needed.

“Now people with rare blood types don’t have to be worried anymore, as the bank can be more proactive in acquiring supply.”

The new blood bank had several advantages over current facilities which stored blood using traditional equipment like refrigerators, Binh said.

Source: Thanh Nien, SGTT