New South Wales Government
Clinical Excellence Commission


There are many myths in medicine about blood transfusions. We commonly hear statements such as, "blood helps my patient get out of hospital sooner" or "blood improves healing". It is also a myth that blood is free.

There is a perception that blood is safer than ever, and whilst this might be the case in regards to transmissible viruses such as HIV, Hepatitis or vCJD, the rate of adverse events from human error, incompatibility reactions, and bacterial contaminations are significant. There is now increasing evidence for immunomodulatory effects following transfusion.

We can no longer ignore the facts about blood and blood transfusion.

• Myth 1: "Blood, it's safer than it's ever been"
• Myth 2: "A blood transfusion will get my patient home sooner"
• Myth 3: "Blood transfusions improve healing"
• Myth 4: "Autologous blood (pre-donated) is risk-free"
• Myth 5: "Blood, it's free anyway"