The American Society of Hematology has developed the resources in this section to educate the public about the importance of healthy blood and to raise the awareness of common blood diseases, such as anemia, bleeding and clotting disorders, and blood cancers.
Blood Basics
Blood is a specialized body fluid. It has four main components: plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Blood has many different functions, including transporting oxygen and nutrients to the lungs and tissues, forming blood clots to prevent excess blood loss, carrying cells and antibodies that fight infection, bringing waste products to the kidneys and liver, which filter and clean the blood, and regulating body temperature.
Basic Patient Help Resources
Hematology Glossary
Discover key medical terms and definitions related to blood diseases. View Key TermsHow to Talk with Your Doctor
See a list of tips to help you prepare for your next visit to the doctor.Prepare for Your Next VisitBlood Disorders
Discover additional information on common bleeding disorders including anemia, hemophilia, blood clots, and blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma.
Common Blood Disorders
Patient Groups and Resources
See a list of external patient groups that provide additional information about blood diseases, conditions, and disorders, or browse a list of ASH resources adapted for patients.
Patient Groups
Access links to websites that provide information about blood diseases for patients.
Patient Resources
Access patient versions of ASH Guidelines to help you manage your health and treatment.
Other Resources
Blood Banking and Donation
Learn more about donor-recipient safety, the process of matching blood types, and donation locations.
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are essential to the advancement of medicine. Learn more about clinical trials or how you can participate in a clinical trial near you.
Blood Detectives
Peabody-Award-winning filmmaker Joseph Lovett, in conjunction with ASH, presents Blood Detectives, an hour-long documentary that aired on Discovery Health. Blood Detectives focuses on the medical mysteries and lifesaving work of highly specialized doctors, hematologists, as they race against time to unravel medical mysteries and save lives, from leukemia to blood clots and more.
Explore the Series