About Canadian Blood Services
We are Canada's Biological Lifeline.
We are the connection between donors and patients, healthcare professionals and medical researchers. We are nationally responsible for a secure system of life essentials for transfusion and transplantation that’s reliable, accessible and sustainable. Every day we work diligently to help save lives, restore health and earn the nation’s trust.
Who we are
Established in 1998, Canadian Blood Services is an independent, not-for-profit charitable organization primarily funded by the governments of all provinces and territories except Quebec. Regulated as a biologics manufacturer by Health Canada, we are responsible for ensuring that patients across the country have safe, reliable access to the high-quality blood, plasma, stem cells, and organs and tissues they need.
Our role as the national blood authority was established in a memorandum of understanding between the federal, provincial and territorial governments following the Royal Commission of Inquiry by Justice Horace Krever into Canada’s blood contamination crisis. The principles articulated in Justice Krever’s final report continue to guide our policy development and decision-making.
Canadian Blood Services provides blood and blood products for transfusion, manages a formulary of plasma protein and related products used in a wide array of medical conditions, and also manages stem cell registry services and cord blood banking, on behalf of all provincial and territorial governments except Quebec. Our national transplant registry for interprovincial organ sharing and related programs extends to all provinces and territories.
We collaborate with patient groups, care providers, health system leaders, communities of donors, other blood service organizations and governments to continuously improve the effectiveness of Canada’s health systems and achieve the best possible patient outcomes. Working with this diverse community of stakeholders, we contribute to the advancement and excellence of both national and international networks focused on transfusion and transplantation.
Our vision
To help every patient
To match every need
To serve every Canadian
Our mission
We are Canada’s Biological Lifeline
Our values
Integrity We do the right thing, always. We do what we say we will do. We share information in an honest, transparent manner. We follow policies, processes and regulations.
Collaboration We help each other. We engage those who are affected by our decisions. We listen with an open mind. We focus on solutions.
Adaptability We embrace change. We keep learning. We seek new ideas and opportunities. We integrate better ways of working, quickly.
Respect We treat everyone fairly. We are considerate and courteous to everyone. We value diversity in all its forms. We create and nurture an environment in which everyone feels included.
Excellence We give our best every day, in all that we do. We take ownership of our work. We continuously improve our processes, products and services. We set increasingly higher standards for ourselves.
What we do
Blood for Life
We collect, test and manufacture blood and blood products, including red blood cells, platelets and plasma. We provide diagnostic laboratory testing services in some provinces. And our research and development efforts yield new knowledge, processes and technologies, to ensure patients receive the best product at the right time to improve their health and well-being.
Plasma for Life
We collect plasma from unpaid donors across Canada. While we process some of this plasma to meet domestic transfusion needs, most is shipped to pharmaceutical manufacturers contracted by Canadian Blood Services to produce medications — primarily the therapies known as immunoglobulins — for patients in Canada. These medications form part of a national formulary of plasma protein and related products (PPRP) that we manage on behalf of all provinces and territories except Quebec. Most of our formulary comprises medications that we bulk-purchase from global pharmaceutical companies and
Stem Cells for Life
We operate several programs to support better outcomes for people living with the many diseases and disorders that can be treated with stem cell transplants. We collect umbilical cord blood to manufacture stem cells for our cord blood bank. We also operate a national registry of adult stem cell donors and participate in an international network of donor registries. And we provide human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing services to ensure the best possible matches between stem cell donors and recipients.
Organs and Tissues for Life
We manage a national transplant registry for interprovincial organ sharing, as well as related programs for donation and transplantation. Working with partners across the organ and tissue donation and transplantation (OTDT) community, Canadian Blood Services develops leading practices, supports professional education and public awareness activities, and collaborates on new ways to share data on the performance of the OTDT system in Canada. We actively support ongoing work to make organ and tissue donation policies more inclusive.
Research and Innovation
To support our operations and advance transfusion and transplantation science and medicine, Canadian Blood Services conducts wide-ranging research and development activities. We also participate in clinical trials and research led by others.
Through these efforts, we help to introduce innovative products, important knowledge, enhanced safety and quality measures, and refined processes and technologies. Our work supports problem-solving in the blood supply chain, contributing to optimal patient outcomes. We support professional education and public awareness initiatives related to transfusion and transplantation. And we regularly share insights and expertise with our health system partners, other stakeholders, funding governments and international blood service organizations.
Governance
Our governance structure is designed to ensure vigilant oversight of our management and operations while protecting our independence as a national blood operator entrusted with maintaining a safe, secure supply of blood and blood products.
Recent publications
Sustainability report
At Canadian Blood Services, social responsibility is core to our purpose. It is embedded in our founding principles and has driven our evolution as Canada’s Lifeline
Strategic plan 2024+
Our current strategic plan sets out the priorities that will guide Canadian Blood Services as we continue working in partnership with Canada’s health systems to achieve the best possible patient outcomes.
Annual report
This year’s annual report, Making All the Difference, explores how we work together to achieve better outcomes for patients, communities and Canada’s health systems.
Our quality policy
Quality is a guiding principle in everything we do. It’s what links us to our goal of consistently providing safe and effective products and services to patients that depend on them.
Our commitment to donors
Everything we do depends on donors like you. With your generosity, we can help many patients. Which is why it’s so important that what we say, what we do, and how we do it inspires you to continue to be a part of Canada’s Lifeline. Your experiences with us matter.
Our supplier code of conduct
We are committed to conducting business in a highly ethical and environmentally sustainable manner, and in a way that promotes corporate social responsibility and non-discriminatory practices across our supply chain.