A Study on the Impact of Blood Large-Scale Long-Distance Airdrop on Storage Quality of Suspended Red Blood Cells

Getting blood quickly to the scene of a disaster, humanitarian crisis or conflict can save lives. Ground, sea and conventional air transport are often slow, or limited by distance and infrastructure. Airdrops offer an alternative, but no one had studied large-scale, long-distance blood airdrops under realistic conditions. This CME activity is based on a study in Transfusion that tested a ton-scale airdrop of red blood cell (RBC) units over a journey of more than 8,000 km. The airdropped units were compared with units kept in standard refrigerated storage throughout their 35-day shelf life. The activity covers why airdrop delivery matters, the factors that could affect blood quality in transit (temperature, vibration, impact and air pressure), and how quality was assessed. It also considers what the results mean for emergency blood supply planning.

Target Audience

Healthcare Professionals 

Learning Objectives

  • Explore large-scale, long-distance airdrops under realistic conditions and the impact on blood product quality

Activity Disclosure

No commercial support has been accepted related to the development or publication of this activity.

This activity underwent peer review in line with the standards of editorial integrity and publication ethics. Conflicts of interest have been identified and resolved in accordance with John Wiley and Sons, Inc.’s Policy on Activity Disclosure and Conflict of Interest.

Course summary

Available credit: 
  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™
Course opens: 
08/10/2026
Course expires: 
08/09/2029
Cost:
$0.00

Article Authors

Lei Liu, Yiming Li, Lidong Zhang, Yong Qi, Jinbing Du, Wanbing Liu

CME Editor

 

Julie Katz Karp MD

Julie Katz Karp MD

Julie Katz Karp MD has nothing to disclose.

 

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

John Wiley and Sons, Inc. designates this journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. For information on applicability and acceptance of continuing medical education credit for this activity, please consult your professional licensing board.

This activity is designed to be completed within 1 hour. To successfully earn credit, participants must complete the activity during the valid credit period, which is up to three years from initial publication. Additionally, up to 3 attempts and a score of 70% or better is needed to pass the post test and claim CC credit. [ACGME competency/CC category: Medical Knowledge].

Available Credit

  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™

Price

Cost:
$0.00
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