Background and Aim: Blood should be free from any kind of pathogen or contamination for safe and effective blood transfusion services. Bacterial contamination of blood products may cause sepsis or transfusion reactions. Transfusion associated sepsis is a major health problem which has been overlooked. So this study has been carried out to evaluate the potential contaminants in blood and blood components. Materials &Methods: This retrospective study was done in Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Government Medical College, Jammu, India for five years from Jan 2018- Dec 2022 to evaluate the frequency of bacterial contamination of blood and blood components. 5ml of blood was collected from tubing of Whole blood, packed red blood cells, platelet units using a needle and syringe under a laminar air flow taking care of all aseptic precautions and dispensed in nutrient liquid broth media and then sent to Microbiology Department for culture sterility testing. Subcultures were done in blood culture media and growth was identified using standard microbiological methods. Results: A total of 533 samples were taken 71 whole blood units; 279 packed RBC units and 183 platelet units and sent to Microbiology Department for sterility testing. Out of 533 units 23 (4.3%) were found to be positive for bacterial contamination. In the present study, whole blood had (5.6%) had highestprevalence of bacterial contamination followed by random donor platelets (4.3%)and Packed red blood cells (3.9%).Main bacteria found were Coagulase negative Staphylococcus, Klebsiella spp., Aerobic Spore Bearers etc. Conclusion: This study concludes that bacterial contamination of blood and blood components is common in developing countries including India. There is an urgent need for continuous monitoring, strict quality control program and strategies like proper donor selection, good phlebotomy practices and good manufacturing practices in blood centres to limit bacterial contamination in order to maintain and enhance blood safety.