Table.

Risks of red blood cell transfusion (adapted from British Committee for Standards in Haematology (2001)¹)

Risk factor	Estimated frequency per unit transfused	Deaths per million units
Acute haemolytic reactions	1 in 250 000 to 1 in 1 000 000	0.67
Hepatitis B	1 in 100 000 to 1 in 400 000*	<0.5
Hepatitis C	1 in 3 000 000†	<0.5
HIV	1 in 4 000 000	<0.5
Bacterial contamination of red cell concentrates	1 in 500 000	<0.25

^*Data from Kate Soldan, National Blood Service and Central Public Health Laboratory. 

^†Data from Dr Pat Hewitt and Dr John Barbara, National Blood Service, North London.