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blood storage
This site does not endorse the following Watchtower quotes. They are simply presented to show what the Watchtower teaches regarding the topic.
Autotransfusion- Storing and Reinfusing Blood
Autotransfusion is the storing and reinfusing of a person's own blood during an operation. This life saving option has been successfully used for over a century. Jehovah's Witnesses were forbidden from storing their own blood until 2026.
Unacceptable
"This clearly rules out one common use of autologous blood — preoperative collection, storage, and later infusion of a patient’s own blood. In such procedure, this is what is done: Prior to elective surgery, some units of a person’s whole blood are banked or the red cells are separated, frozen, and stored. Then if it seems that the patient needs blood during or following surgery, his own stored blood can be returned to him. Current anxieties about blood-borne diseases have made this use of autologous blood popular. Jehovah’s Witnesses, though, DO NOT accept this procedure. We have long appreciated that such stored blood certainly is no longer part of the person. It has been completely removed from him, so it should — Deuteronomy 12:24." Watchtower 1989 Mar 1 p.30
"Occasionally, a doctor will urge a patient to deposit his own blood weeks before surgery (preoperative autologous blood donation, or PAD) so that if the need arises, he could transfuse the patient with his own stored blood. However, such collecting, storing, and transfusing of blood directly contradicts what is said in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. Blood is not to be stored; it is to be poured out—returned to God, as it were." Watchtower 2000 Oct 15 p.30
Enjoy Life Forever (2022) p.255
The page "Medical Information for Clinicians > Medical Information Packets > Religious and Ethical Position on Medical Therapy and Related Matters" (as of 22 March 2026) stated Autotransfusion is not accepted, as shown in the following screenshot.
The Advance Health Care Directive that Jehovah's Witnesses are instructed to carry confirmed their refusal to store blood.
"I refuse to predonate and store my blood for later infusion." United States
"I also refuse to predonate my blood for later infusion." Britain 2011 dpa-E Bi 9/11
"I refuse to predonate and store my blood for later infusion." Canada 2007 md-E 1/07
Acceptable
The Governing Body Update #2, March 2026 announced that Jehovah's Witnesses may transfuse their own predonated and stored blood.
"Therefore, Christians are not under the command that blood be poured out and covered with dust. Furthermore, the Bible does not comment on the use of a person’s own blood in medical and surgical care.
Regarding the use of one’s own blood, our position has been as is stated in the October 15, 2000, issue of The Watchtower. There it says: “A Christian must decide for himself how his own blood will be handled in the course of a surgical procedure, medical test, or current therapy.”
For that reason, many Christians accept simple procedures, such as blood tests, as well as more complicated procedures involving their own blood, such as the use of heart-lung machines, cell-salvage devices, and kidney dialysis treatments. However, the list of treatment options continues to grow.
Therefore, after much prayer and consideration of the Scriptures, the Governing Body has decided to clarify our position on the use of a patient’s own blood in medical and surgical care. The clarification is this: Each Christian must decide for himself how his own blood will be used in all medical and surgical care. This includes whether to allow his own blood to be removed, stored, and then given back to him.
What does this mean? Some Christians may decide that they would allow their blood to be stored and then be given back to them. Others may object. Each Christian must make his personal decision on all matters involving the use of his own blood with regard to medical or surgical care."
The statement that the 2000 Watchtower allowed a Christian to "decide for himself how his own blood will be handled" is deceptive misdirection, because storing blood was not a personal decision, but specifically unacceptable.
Paul Grundy 2005 - 2026