Regional Health Authorities across the province are working with Health Shared Services NL on ensuring an adequate supply of blood collection vials and other supplies.

Global supply chain issues are affecting the availability of blood collection tubes, with limited stock available.

Eastern Health says there have been no interruptions in service but it is reducing unnecessary redundancy by limiting the number of tubes collected whenever possible.

The health authority says patients and clients will not experience any changes to service, but some private blood collection operations are being affected.

One private operator tells VOCM News that supplies are being allocated to hospitals leaving private clinics struggling to stay open.

The private operator says the situation is expected to last throughout the summer and into the fall.