The Blood Bank
Role and policy
Blood banking services are intended to ensure a sufficient quantity of blood at all times and meet requirements for its safety.
is that:
to provide secure blood banking services at national level
to provide services for cell and tissue, organ transplantation and stem cell therapy
promote innovation and progress through teaching and research in their fields of work and through collaboration with foreign and domestic parties
play an important role in the promotion and education of the general public and in the donation of blood banks
is that:
represent the best blood banks in international comparison and at the forefront of Icelandic healthcare
put safe and good service at the centre of their lives
Ensure the welfare of blood donors and recipients through professionalism and efficient communication of information.
Create an attractive atmosphere for blood donors and the general public and contribute to their health
to teach the community to create a confidence-building framework for their work
emphasize powerful basic research that promotes progress and lays the foundation for innovation and improved services
create a stimulating and interesting working environment, at the same time attracting skilled staff involved in the formulation and development of their work
The Blood Bank has an effective quality system, based on national and international requirements, that ensures proper working procedures, quality and safety in its production and services.
The Icelandic Blood Bank produces blood components and provides such services as these are designed to meet the needs of its customers nationwide.
The following Act contains special provisions on the Blood Bank:
Lög um heilbrigðisþjónustu nr. 40/2007. This includes the words of Article 20: "The National University Hospital is the main hospital in the country and the University Hospital. It provides specialised hospital services, including outpatient and day-care units, for all people in Iceland and general hospital services for the residents of the health region of the capital area. Its role shall be: 6. Operate a blood bank providing blood banking services on a national scale.
Lyfjalög nr. 100/2020. This includes the following provisions in Article 6: The role of the Icelandic Medicines Agency is as follows: ...13. To monitor the collection, handling, storage and distribution of blood and the quality and safety of the handling of human cells and tissues. Monitoring of the activities of blood banks by the Medical Director of Health is subject to Chapter VI of the Health Services Act and the Medical Director of Health Act. The Minister may make further provision in regulations for the operation of blood banks, the recording of adverse reactions, the implementation of monitoring, etc.
Reglugerð on the services that the Blood Bank provides:
Regulation on the collection, handling, preservation and distribution of blood nr. 441/2006 cf. amendment (1.) nr. 1024/2007
Regulation on quality and safety in the handling of human cells and tissues nr. 1188/2008
The Blood Bank follows Persónuverndarstefnu Landspítala