The HaemoBank is an automated transfusion service that provides 24/7 blood product access, enhances operational efficiency, and improves patient safety. Developed in partnership with Haemonetics, the system reduces waste, optimises staff time, and transforms hospital transfusion workflows.
Haemonetics is a global healthcare company that produces medical technology to reduce costs and improve the quality of care. In 2009, they partnered with GBE following the acquisition of Neoteric. Since then, we at GBE have collaborated closely on the continued development of BloodTrack®.
Building on this collaboration, GBE proposed the innovative concept of the HaemoBank – an automated system designed to dispense blood bags. The idea was presented to Haemonetics, approved, and later moved into the prototyping and development phase. Innovations such as the Blood Track Just-in-Time (BTJIT) system have helped hospitals lower costs and improve efficiency. This system became a key feature of the HaemoBank, offering benefits such as reduced reliance on key staff and streamlined blood management, ensuring the risk of human error is minimalised.
Product development was guided by market research, trade show feedback, and insights from key stakeholders. This approach helped ensure that the final solution was both practical and user-friendly, addressing increasing needs in blood bag dispersion within hospitals.
We recognised that hospitals needed a faster, safer, and more efficient way to access and manage blood products, particularly in emergency or high-pressure clinical settings. Existing systems relied heavily on manual processes that were slower, more prone to error, and placed extra strain on already stretched clinical and blood bank teams.
At GBE, we saw an opportunity to help. We proposed a fully automated solution that could:
Developing HaemoBank required more than technical innovation – it demanded a deep understanding of the complex environments in which it would be used. One of the primary challenges we encountered was obtaining timely and consistent feedback from medical professionals. Doctors, nurses, and clinical staff operate under intense time pressures, and securing their input often required persistence, flexibility, and a clear understanding of their priorities.
To address this, we adapted our approach to make every interaction count. We came prepared with focused questions, early prototypes, and clear objectives to maximise the value of each session. We also attended relevant medical trade shows and industry events to gather insights indirectly, gaining a broader view of operational needs and emerging trends.
When direct feedback was available, it proved invaluable. Medical experts helped us identify critical points in current blood storage and retrieval systems, such as time-consuming manual checks, risks of mismatched transfusions, and inefficient access to stored blood products. Their input directly informed the evolution of HaemoBank from a concept into a practical, high-impact solution.
A significant outcome of this collaboration was the integration of a Blood Bank Information System into the HaemoBank. This feature automates the process of blood matching and retrieval, ensuring accuracy and safety. Each patient is assigned a unique barcode that, when scanned, allows clinical staff to quickly access compatible blood units. This innovation not only reduces human error but also improves workflow efficiency in high-pressure situations, such as surgeries and emergency care.
Throughout the development process, our team maintained a strong focus on user-centred design. We combined medical feedback with our engineering expertise to create a product that is intuitive, reliable, and seamlessly integrated into hospital operations. The enhancements made through this iterative process have had a measurable impact, improving patient safety, reducing staff workload, and helping healthcare providers deliver better care with greater confidence.
GBE has continued to develop the BloodTrack software throughout this time with the development of BloodTrack kiosks and the software that powers the HaemoBank system. The software evolved significantly through the early 2000s, undergoing internal upgrades while GBE maintained strong partnerships with Haemonetics. This included improvements to total quality management processes and successful completion of customer audits, alongside the release and sales of the BloodTrack Rev 5 kiosk.
GBE aimed to develop a fully automated HaemoBank system designed to help manage the workload of blood bank staff. Our initial strategy focused on implementing the BCJIT management system, creating a user-friendly device that streamlined operations and eliminated the need to label blood bags manually. BCJIT combines the BloodTrack OnDemand® software with the HaemoBank® storage device to provide clinicians with safe, fast access to blood products precisely when and where they are needed.
In close collaboration with Haemonetics, GBE continued to expand and refine the system’s capabilities. This partnership led to the creation of additional modules tailored to address different clinical scenarios. Notably, the BloodTrack® Emerge system was developed for emergency blood management, providing rapid access to un-crossmatched blood during critical situations. The system was further extended to support crossmatched blood management, enabling automatic processing and verification of blood cells and platelets. This was an essential advancement for high-demand environments such as labour wards, ICUs, and transfusion units.
Depending on the software configuration, the BloodTrack® HaemoBank® can be deployed as an Emergency Blood Management System, a Crossmatched Blood Management System, or a Just-in-Time Blood Management System. Each configuration enhances safety, improves traceability, and provides healthcare organisations with greater control over blood product inventory and access.
With hundreds of installations globally, the HaemoBank has become a market-leading, on-demand blood vending system used in hospitals across the world.
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