All blood collected by Kentucky Blood Center (KBC) is returned to the Beaumont Center in Lexington for processing, donor screening tests and labeling before shipping to hospitals. Components Laboratory staff separate whole blood units and prepare the following transfusable components: red blood cells, platelets, fresh frozen plasma and cryoprecipitate.

After testing is completed and donor screening test results meet regulatory requirements, Components Laboratory staff label the blood components. The labeled blood components are stored in KBC's Hospital Services department until needed by a hospital blood bank. A single whole blood unit has the potential to help three patients after processing by the Components Laboratory.