[The transfusion chain: from donor to recipient].

From donor to recipient, raw blood will undergo a succession of processing events before eventually becoming a qualified, recipient-adapted finished product. The integrity of the transfusion chain and its various links will determine the final quality of blood transfusion, a key element for a number of medical disciplines. The recent reform of blood transfusion has brought about a national system based on a single body, the French Blood Institution, with regional branches ensuring effective networking of the entire country. Keeping a permanent scientific watch, this Donor-to-Recipient set-up warrants optimal quality according to current knowledge, and close links with the single hemovigilance network which continually analyses events that may affect transfusion safety and takes immediate action accordingly.