Hemophilia B treatment kit essentials
Last updated Oct. 31, 2025, by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD
Fact-checked by Joana Carvalho, PhD
Hemophilia B is a rare inherited disease that makes a person susceptible to excessive bleeding after surgery or an injury. In severe cases, it can lead to spontaneous bleeding episodes that occur without an obvious cause.
Bleeding episodes in hemophilia can occur at any time and may sometimes be life-threatening if not promptly and appropriately managed. If you have hemophilia, it’s critical to always be equipped with a treatment kit that will enable you to respond to a bleed quickly in any circumstance.
The importance of carrying a hemophilia B treatment kit
When a bleed occurs in a person with hemophilia B, the goal is to achieve quick and aggressive bleed control.
Having a portable emergency kit on hand means that a person with hemophilia B or their caregivers have the tools to immediately address a bleed that happens at any time or in any place, whether at home or traveling.
Avoiding treatment delays can mean a faster and safer recovery, and a lower risk of long-term complications like joint damage. Being able to handle a bleed on your own may also reduce the need to go to the emergency room for care. This can save time, stress, and money.
Having the tools to self-manage bleeds can also give families a greater sense of independence and control. Knowing you are equipped to handle bleeds as they arise may make you feel more empowered in daily life, leading to a better overall life quality.
What should be in your hemophilia B treatment kit?
A comprehensive hemophilia treatment kit should have all the tools necessary to treat and manage bleeds. Essentials include:
- hemophilia medications
- infusion supplies
- first-aid basics
- copies of treatment and emergency management plans.
Hemophilia B medications
On-demand medications for bleed control are a key component of any hemophilia B treatment kit. These will usually include factor replacement therapies, which provide a version of the factor IX blood clotting protein that hemophilia B patients lack.
A supply of your factor IX treatment or any other prescribed medications should be kept in the kit.
Keep in mind that storage requirements for medications vary. Some may be able to be stored at room temperature, while others may need to be kept cold. Ask your healthcare provider how your specific medications should be stored.
Infusion supplies
As hemophilia treatments are generally given via an infusion into the bloodstream, it is also critical for the kit to include necessary infusion supplies:
- syringes for drawing up the medication
- clean needles for the infusion
- chlorhexidine or alcohol wipes to sterilize the infusion site
- gloves to avoid contamination of the infusion area
- a tourniquet to make veins easier to access for infusions
- sterile saline for clearing the infusion line
- gauze pads and bandages for after the infusion
- a sharps/biohazard container for disposing of needles and blood-contaminated items.
In some cases, a person will have an implanted device called a port that can be accessed for infusions. This may require additional supplies, including a special port access kit, numbing cream, masks, and other medications to flush the port after the infusion.
A person’s doctor will tell them what supplies to have on hand and will provide training on how medications should be prepared and administered.
General first-aid items
A hemophilia B treatment kit should also be equipped with general first-aid materials that can be used in a variety of circumstances:
- sterile dressings
- clean and sterile gloves
- cleansing agents, and antibiotic or alcohol towelettes
- antibiotic and burn ointments
- adhesive bandages/plasters in a variety of sizes
- non-aspirin pain relievers
- compression packs and/or ice packs.
Emergency information and other documents
All people with hemophilia B should have a comprehensive bleed prevention plan, including:
- a list of bleeding signs and known triggers
- a detailed list of medications and how to prepare and administer them
- instructions for emergency care
- important phone numbers, including contacts for physicians, hemophilia treatment centers, local emergency rooms, and other emergency contact numbers
- important medical information and insurance documents
- an infusion log, to keep track of administered doses.
A copy of these documents should be kept in the hemophilia B treatment kit. That will ensure that any person who needs to access it can easily find it.
Managing your hemophilia B treatment kit
Regular maintenance of the treatment kit is important so that you can be assured that you’ll always have what’s needed in any circumstance.
Expiration dates for any medications should be checked once monthly. If there have been any recent changes to the prescribed medication or its dose, make sure the most current one is in the kit. Also, make sure any factor IX product is being stored at the specified temperature. Keep ice packs ready in the freezer if your medications need to be kept cold when traveling.
When checking medications, do a comprehensive assessment to see that all the other items initially placed in the treatment kit have not run out.
Keep track of the dates on which the kit has been checked to avoid forgetting. Even if the kit has been checked recently, take another inventory before any planned travel.
Store the kit in a location where it is easy to remember when you’re leaving the house. Put it back in the same location when you get home so that you can easily know where it is.
Hemophilia News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.