Brazil's SUS transports rare blood via commercial flight to save patient

Brazil's Unified Health System (SUS) has completed its second transport of rare blood via a commercial aircraft cabin, a partnership between the Ministry of Health and various airlines. The blood, collected in Ceará, was flown to Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, to treat a patient in critical condition following a kidney transplant.

The patient required a specific transfusion because pre-transfusion tests identified the presence of the anti-Jsb antibody, a rare marker that makes finding compatible blood difficult. The National Rare Blood Registry (CNSR) was used to locate a compatible donor in Ceará.

This initiative, involving the National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac), aims to reduce transport times by allowing rare blood to be carried in the cabin rather than as cargo, which is subject to longer delays and restrictions. This model follows the existing protocol used for transporting organs for transplants, allowing for more agile delivery during nights, weekends, and holidays.