Blood intended for kidney recipients will be matched by type and as close as possible to white blood cells and donor tissue.
It’s hoped the move will reduce the need for a blood transfusion which is currently required by two in five transplant patients.
Transfusions save lives but they are also associated with double the risk of losing the transplant.
Also, if a patient needs to return to hospital dialysis, it costs the NHS around £20,000 to £33,000 a year.
2,339 people received deceased donor kidney transplants in the UK in 2022 and 2023.
There are currently 5,870 people on the kidney transplant waiting list.
