Blood Donations and Blood Banking

What’s blood banking?

A blood financial institution is a spot the place blood is collected and saved earlier than it’s used for transfusions. Blood banking takes place within the lab. That is to guarantee that donated blood and blood merchandise are protected earlier than they’re used. Blood banking additionally determines the blood sort. The blood can be examined for infectious illnesses.

Information about blood banking

In line with the American Pink Cross:

• About 36,000 models of blood are wanted every single day.

• The variety of blood models donated is about 13.6 million a yr.

• About 6.8 million volunteers are blood donors every year.

• Every unit of blood is damaged down into parts. These are crimson blood cells, plasma, cryoprecipitated AHF (cryo), a white blood cell known as a granulocyte, and platelets. One unit of complete blood and its elements could also be transfused to a number of folks. Every individual might have a special want.

• Greater than 21 million blood parts are transfused every year.

Who’re the blood donors?

Most blood donors are volunteers. However you might also donate blood a number of weeks earlier than having surgical procedure. That is in order that your blood is out there in case you want a transfusion. Donating blood for your self known as an autologous donation.

Volunteer blood donors should meet sure standards. These embrace:

• Should be a minimum of 16 years of age, or the minimal age set by state regulation   

• Should be in good well being

• Should weigh a minimum of 110 kilos

• Should cross the bodily and well being historical past examination given earlier than donation

Some states let folks youthful than 16 or 17 years to donate blood, with parental consent.

What assessments are completed in blood banking?

Sure customary assessments are completed within the lab as soon as blood is donated. These embrace:

• Typing. That is blood sort. Blood will be A, B, AB, or O.

• Rh typing. This may be Rh optimistic or Rh damaging.

• Screening for any surprising crimson blood cell antibodies. These antibodies might trigger issues within the individual getting the blood.

• Screening for present or previous infections. The checklist contains:

  
  

Blood cells are handled with radiation. This kills any T-lymphocytes within the donated blood. T-lymphocytes could cause a response when transfused. They’ll additionally trigger graft-versus-host issues. This can be a uncommon complication of a blood transfusion.

Blood may additionally be filtered to take away sure white blood cells known as leukocytes (leukocyte-reduced blood). These cells include antibodies that may trigger fevers within the individual getting the transfusion. After getting a number of transfusions, the individual could also be at greater threat for a response.

What are the blood varieties?

In line with the AABB, blood varieties make up the next parts of the U.S. inhabitants:

• O Rh-positive – 39%

• A Rh-positive – 30%

• B Rh-positive – 9%

• O Rh-negative – 9%

• A Rh-negative – 6%

• AB Rh-positive – 4%

• B Rh-negative – 2%

• AB Rh-negative – 1%

What are the parts of blood?

Blood or 1 of its parts could also be transfused. Every part serves many features.

• Pink blood cells. These cells carry oxygen to the tissues within the physique. They’re generally used to deal with anemia.

• Platelets. They assist the blood clot. They’re used to deal with leukemia and different types of most cancers.

• White blood cells. This can be a sort of white blood cell that helps battle an infection. It helps within the immune course of.

• Plasma. That is the watery, liquid a part of the blood. Pink blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are part of this liquid. Plasma is required to hold the numerous elements of the blood by way of the bloodstream. Plasma serves many perform. It’s typically transfused to switch blood-clotting proteins.

• Cryoprecipitate AHF. The social gathering of the plasma that comprises clotting elements that assist management bleeding.

Albumin, immune globulins, and clotting-factors may additionally be separated and processed for transfusions.