London’s Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust is set to launch an exciting pilot program aimed at utilizing drones for the transportation of urgent blood samples. This innovative six-month project strives to cut down the time needed to transfer samples between hospitals from over 30 minutes to under two minutes.
At present, blood samples are transported via vans or motorcycles, often face delays due to the heavy traffic in the city. The new drone system, which is supervised by the Civil Aviation Authority, will enable quicker transfers of blood samples from patients undergoing surgery, particularly for those at high risk for bleeding complications.
Prof. Ian Abbs, the chief executive of Guy’s and St Thomas’, expressed his excitement about the initiative, emphasizing how it fits into the Trust’s mission of enhancing patient care and minimizing environmental impact. "We’re proud to be the first trust in London to explore this groundbreaking method," he stated.
This pilot program is the result of a collaboration between healthcare logistics company Apian and drone delivery service Wing, representing a broader trend towards integrating drone technology into healthcare logistics. Recent studies indicate that drones can effectively transport blood products without diminishing their viability.
A 2016 study published in the journal Transfusion, led by Timothy Amukele at Johns Hopkins Hospital, examined the transportation of blood products via drone. The research revealed that there were no negative effects on red blood cells, platelets, or plasma during flight, even across varying temperatures. This study supports the premise that drones can be safely employed in healthcare logistics, as it demonstrated optimal conditions for blood products without hemolysis, temperature variations, or other potential harm during transit.
Earlier this year, NHS Blood and Transplant conducted its own trial, transporting red blood cell components between hospitals in Northumbria. The test results confirmed that the quality of blood delivered by drones remained consistent, with no notable differences observed in comparison to road transport.
The success of these trials underscores the potential of utilizing drones for medical needs within the UK. This pioneering project in London could lead to broader applications of drone technology for delivering essential medical supplies, accelerating diagnostics, and ensuring timely patient care.
In 2016, Rwanda’s government partnered with Zipline, a drone startup based in San Francisco, to enhance blood delivery logistics. Zipline’s autonomous drones transport blood from distribution centers directly to healthcare facilities, where the blood is released from an insulated cardboard box using a parachute upon arrival. Today, Zipline operates two distribution centers in Rwanda, handling up to 500 deliveries a day.
An analysis published in Lancet Global Health examined nearly 13,000 drone deliveries between 2017 and 2019, revealing that half of these orders were delivered within 41 minutes. In contrast, road deliveries would generally take at least two hours. The implementation of drone deliveries has also contributed to a decrease in wasted blood donations, further proving their effectiveness in urgent medical situations.
Drones have been recognized for their potential to transform healthcare accessibility in India, particularly in isolated areas. Following the relaxation of drone regulations last year, operators are conducting successful trials for the delivery of medical supplies, pathology samples, and blood. For instance, in one trial, a drone transported blood samples over 72 kilometers from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh to Noida, near Delhi, completing the journey in just over an hour, compared to more than two hours by road.
Companies like Skye Air Mobility are reporting a 48% reduction in transport times due to drone deliveries. Skye Air Mobility has conducted over 1,000 flights, delivering more than 3,500 kg of various payloads, including medical supplies and e-commerce items. The company has also collaborated with SRL Diagnostics to transport blood samples using temperature-controlled carriers, leading to enhanced lab efficiency by expediting sample processing and getting critical results to healthcare providers faster.
While these trials show promising results, experts like Rutuja Patil from the KEM Hospital Research Centre stress the importance of scaling up drone technology to make it a cost-effective solution for widespread healthcare applications.