SDM Blood Bank, located within the SDM College of Medical Sciences & Hospital at Manjushree Nagar, Sattur, Dharwad, is one of the leading transfusion medicine centers in North Karnataka. Established in 2004, the blood bank plays a crucial role in providing safe, reliable, and timely blood transfusion services to patients admitted to the hospital as well as individuals referred from other healthcare institutions. Equipped with advanced medical technology and managed by experienced transfusion medicine specialists, the blood bank adheres to stringent national quality standards for blood collection, testing, processing, storage, and distribution.

The blood bank offers comprehensive services that include the collection of voluntary blood donations, blood grouping, compatibility testing, separation of blood into various components, and emergency blood supply. Every donated unit undergoes rigorous screening for transfusion-transmitted infections using advanced laboratory techniques before being released for patient use, ensuring the highest standards of safety and quality. Since 2019, the center has been using chemiluminescence technology for highly sensitive testing of transfusion-transmitted diseases, while gel card technology is used for accurate blood grouping and cross-matching.

One of the key strengths of SDM Blood Bank is its Component Separation Unit, which enables a single unit of donated blood to be separated into Packed Red Blood Cells (PRBCs), Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP), Platelets, and Cryoprecipitate. This allows multiple patients with different medical conditions to benefit from a single blood donation while ensuring targeted treatment based on individual clinical requirements. The blood bank also provides Single Donor Platelets (SDP) through an advanced apheresis machine, a critical service for patients undergoing cancer treatment, bone marrow disorders, dengue with severe thrombocytopenia, and other conditions requiring platelet transfusions.

Apart from supplying blood and blood components, the department performs several specialized laboratory investigations, including Direct and Indirect Coombs Tests (DCT & ICT), antibody screening, Rh antibody titration, blood grouping by gel card technology, hemoglobin estimation for donors, and automated compatibility testing. These services support clinicians in delivering safe and effective transfusion therapy for surgical, medical, pediatric, obstetric, and emergency patients.

SDM Blood Bank actively promotes voluntary blood donation through regular awareness campaigns and blood donation camps organized in educational institutions, industries, corporate organizations, and community groups across the region. These initiatives help maintain an adequate blood inventory throughout the year while encouraging healthy individuals to contribute to this life-saving cause. The blood bank has successfully organized numerous voluntary blood donation camps, significantly strengthening the availability of blood for emergency and routine healthcare needs.