Macao Blood Transfusion Service

About Us > About the Blood Transfusion Centre

About the Blood Transfusion Centre

Macao Blood Transfusion Service (MBTS), a department under Health Bureau of the Government of Macao Special Administrative Region, is the only institution which supplies blood and its derivatives in the territory. MBTS was set up in 1988 with the cost fully born by the Government. Blood supply is provided to all patients in need through the local hospitals. The quality of all blood products meet the standard set by Council of Europe, Select Committee of Experts on Quality Assurance in Blood Transfusion Services.

MBTS has been dedicating to establish a quality assurance system so as to ensure the sufficiency and safety of blood supply in Macao as well as to stay in line with the policy of “Quality service, Safe blood”. In July of 2003, BTC has been awarded ISO9001:2000 management system certificate.

In addition, the affiliated laboratories of MBTS have participated in the Laboratory External Control Programme in United Kingdom and Australia to ensure the laboratory technique of MBTS is maintained at a certain standard.

Objectives

To respect donors by providing quality service
To ensure self-sufficient blood supply from voluntary non-remunerated blood donors
To safeguard high quality, safe and low cost blood and its derivatives for patients in need in the territory
To ensure the precious blood collected being used in the most appropriate way
To ensure sustainable blood supply that meets the international standard by undertaking periodical review and continual learning

Performance Pledge

Under normal circumstances:
Reception & Registration start within 5 minutes
Complete the blood donation process within60 minutes
Blood Donation report:
Send out normal blood donation reports within 21 working days
Repeat donors may obtain their blood donation reports at our website 7 to10 working days after blood donation.
Suggestions & complaints:
We will respond to your suggestions & complaints within 5 working days

Service Hours

Monday to Friday	：	09：30 – 18：30
Saturday	：	10：00 – 18：00
Sunday	：	11：00 – 17：00

Blood donation service remains available during special grants for exempt from work

Closed on public holidays

Chronology of Major Events

Timeline	Event
1985 – 1987	Early planning and preparation for the establishment of Macao Blood Transfusion Centre by Dr. Isidoro, the first Director of the Centre.
Feb 1988	Macao Blood Transfusion Centre (CTS) was officially opened. Macao Public Health Laboratory was responsible for performing microbiological tests.
Mar 1989	The two hospitals in Macao stopped the practice of paid blood donation and importation of blood. CTS began to implement a policy of voluntary, non-remunerated and anonymous blood donation.
Sep 1989	Started Preoperative Autologous Blood Donation.
Mar 1990	Started routine screening for Hepatitis C antibodies.
Apr 1993	Immunohaematology laborabory participated in UK National External Quality Assessment Scheme for Blood Transfusion Laboratory Practice
Dec 1993	Routinely screen for HTLV-1 antibodies.
Dec 1994	Started to perform all screening tests at CTS laboratory.
1996	Set up a quality assurance department.
Oct 1997	Became a member of International Blood Transfusion Committee
Oct 1999	Computerized routine procedures.
6 Dec 1999	CTS relocated to the present site.
Dec 2000	Microbiology laboratory enrolled in the Serology External Quality Assessment Scheme of National Serology Reference Laboratory, Australia (NRL).
2001	Provided filtered red cells concentrate.
May 2003	Extended blood donation service hours by making service available during lunch hours and on Sundays.
Jul 2003	Awarded ISO9001:2000 Quality Management System Certification.
Apr 2004	Provided Gamma-ray irradiated blood products. Implemented laboratory automation in microbiology laboratory.
May 2005	Implemented Nucleic Acid Testing for HIV RNA and HCV RNA.
27-30 Sep 2005	Supported the World Health Organization in organizing the Western Pacific Regional Workshop on Clinical Blood Transfusion.
Oct 2005	Plasma was sent for fractionation to produce plasma products. Red cells of rare blood groups were stored frozen.
Jan 2006	Conducted surveillance on donor arm skin disinfection.
Aug 2006	Apheresis was used for plasma collection.
Mar 2007	Microbiology laboratory enrolled in the Nucleic Acid Testing External Quality Assessment Scheme in Australia (NRL).
May 2007	Implemented Nucleic Acid Testing for HBV DNA screening.
Jul 2007	Adopted solid-phase assays for alloantibody detection.
Jun 2008	Successfully organized 30th ISBT International Congress
Nov 2009	Obtained certification of conformity to ISO 9001:2008
Nov 2009	A new mobile blood collection vehicle was put into service.
Nov 2010	Cold-chain system optimized to facilitate temperature monitoring for blood product delivery between CTS and hospitals.
Nov 2011	Provided pooled platelet concentrates tested against microbial contamination for hospital use.
Jan 2012	Annual iron tests were in place for regular donors.
May 2012	Microbiology laboratory enrolled in External Quality Assessment Scheme of Hong Kong Institute of Medical Laboratory Sciences (HKIMLS).
Dec 2012	Started registration for bone marrow/haematopoietic stem cell donors.
Jan 2013	Chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) was introduced to replace the original microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA) in the routine screening for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), Treponema Pallidum antibody (TP- Ab) and Human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) antibodies.
Jul 2014/td>	Immunohematology reference laboratory enrolled in the External Quality Assessment Scheme of RCPA, Australia.
Oct 2014	Pooled cryoprecipitates were provided for hospital use.
Dec 2014	Chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) was introduced to replace the original microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA) in the routine screening for HCV and HIV antibodies.
Aug 2015	Individual samples, instead of pools of 6 samples, were used to detect HBV DNA, HCV and HIV RNA.
Jan 2016	Sterile, individually packed cotton swabs were used for donor arm skin disinfection.
Jun 2016	Award ceremony held in recognition of blood donors reaching 5 donations.