A groundbreaking study conducted collaboratively by NHS Blood and Transplant and the medical logistics firm Apian explored the potential of drones for transporting blood supplies.
During the trial, 10 units of packed red blood cells were flown along a 68km route over Northumbria, while another identical set was delivered by road.
After the flights, the blood transported by drone was compared with that delivered by road. The analysis found no significant differences in the biochemical or haematological properties, confirming that the drone delivery process did not negatively affect the blood’s usability.
This trial is part of a larger effort by the NHS to assess the practicality and safety of drones in medical logistics, which could provide faster and more environmentally sustainable alternatives to traditional road transport.
The NHS has already conducted drone deliveries of chemotherapy drugs to remote locations in the UK in under 30 minutes and delivered PPE and test kits to Argyll and Bute during the pandemic.
In the study, blood packs were randomly assigned to either drone or ground transport, with each mode completing five separate trips between Wansbeck Hospital and Alnwick Infirmary in Northumbria.
The drone journeys covered a total round-trip distance of 68km at speeds of up to 68mph, flying out to the coast, over the sea, and back inland. Ground vehicles, on the other hand, traveled a slightly longer route of 74.6km. Despite this, the drones completed their journeys in just 61 minutes, which was faster than the 68 minutes it took for the ground vehicles.
This trial was carried out in coordination with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which granted authorization for the drones to fly beyond the pilot’s visual line of sight, allowing remote monitoring. A similar trial focused on drone transport of platelets is now in the planning stages.
Image source: Apian