Drones Complete UK’s First ‘Beyond Visual Line of Sight’ Blood Delivery

Investigators from the United Kingdom’s NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), in collaboration with medical logistics company Apian, have successfully conducted the U.K.’s first delivery of red blood cells using drones that fly beyond the visual line of sight.

In the trial, investigators transported ten units of packed RBCs on a 68 km journey by drone while another ten units were transported by road. Each pack was then analyzed to assess factors such as potassium concentration and the percentage of hemolysis. The results showed that drone delivery did not affect the quality or longevity of the blood, confirming it as a safe mode of transport.

This study is the first in a series of NHS trials to assess the feasibility and safety of delivering medical supplies via drone, which could be faster and more environmentally friendly than road transport. NHS noted that the drone's travel path in the trial was not the most direct possible; distances would be shorter and travel times quicker in a real-world setting. A similar trial for platelets is planned.