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Introduction: Medical retrieval services resuscitate and retrieve the critically ill and injured. Lifesaving treatment includes the transfusion of red blood cells (RBCs). To ensure patient safety and maximum therapeutic benefit for the patient, the transportation of RBCs for transfusion must occur under optimal conditions. Blood shippers currently in use in Australia are principally polystyrene containers, often selected for low cost, although performance validation is becoming increasingly important. The quality of the blood to the consumer may be compromised by the use of inappropriate shippers and transport systems., Methods: A prototype of a user-friendly soft pack blood shipper was developed and tested in various climatic conditions over 24 hour periods with the RBC temperature monitored., Results: The blood shipper was validated to maintain blood temperature within an acceptable range (2 degrees to 10 degrees C (35.6 degrees-50 degrees F) for up to 16 hours during transport of ambient temperatures ranging from 8 degrees to 35 degrees C. (46.4 degrees-95 degrees F)., Conclusion: The blood shipper provides adequate storage for blood products under a range of climatic conditions and time periods adequate for most retrieval purposes. This allows optimal blood transport system for the medical retrieval service, helping to ensure maximum patient safety and therapeutic benefit from transfusion. The validated blood shipper is also important to blood banks and blood consumers for nonretrieval blood transportation.

Several benefits of collaborative research and guidelines for strengthening collaborative mechanisms have been described here, but the impetus for research and development of competent research teams must come from health professionals themselves. The literature makes it apparent that allied health professionals need to devote a considerable amount of energy and resources to develop a knowledge base for the health-related professions, similar to those in medicine and the biological sciences. Research projects, particularly collaborative ones, can make significant contributions to the body of professional knowledge, the knowledge-generation process, the health care practitioner, and the patient. The results of research should not be judged successful until its ultimate goal (ie, impact on patients and practice) has been measured. In collaborative research, relationships should be based on systems thinking, making networking into a scientific approach--a true partnership approach--which is crucial in dealing with the problems of health care today.