Blood Donation | National Health Portal Of India

Blood Donation

Introduction

Blood is the most significant gift of life that a person can give to others. [1]

Donated blood is always life saving for people who have lost a significant amount of blood due to various reasons like serious injuries, surgical procedures, medical conditions etc. Therefore, all time availability of blood in blood banks has become a prime concern for the society. [2]

Key words

Hemoglobin (Hb)- It is a body protein that contains iron and provides red color to blood. It also carries oxygen from lungs and nourishes all body tissues.

Iron- It is a part of Hb that helps in synthesis of red blood cells and replaces the lost ones. [3]

Antigen- It is a molecule of protein that is found on the red blood cell (RBC) surface.

Antibody- It is a plasma protein that acts as a natural defence of body. It warns immune system to destroy foreign substances like germs.

Rhesus(Rh) factor- It is an antigen that may or may not be present on the surface of RBCs in blood. If Rh factor is present, then the blood type is termed as Rh positive and if it is absent then the blood type is termed as Rh negative.

The need for blood

As blood can be stored for shorter period of duration, there is a constant need of blood donation to have an adequate and safe supply of all blood groups in time of need. Each donor contributes significantly to meet the challenge of accessibility and affordability to patients by making it available whenever and wherever wanted.

Not only it helps saving lives, but also plays a vital role in improving health of a donor.

Blood should be accepted only from voluntary, non-remunerated, low risk, safe and healthy donors. Replacement of donors should be phased out. [6]

Blood groups

Each person has an ABO blood type – either A, B, AB, or O – which means antigen A, antigen B, both antigens (type AB), or neither antigen (type O) is found on their blood cells.
Each person also is either Rh-positive or Rh-negative.

These 2 factors can be combined into 8 possible blood types:

Blood Type	Variant	Variant
A	A+	A-
B	B+	B-
AB	AB+	AB-
O	O+	O-

The ABO group system is determined by the type of antigens (A antigen, B antigen, both A and B antigens and no antigens) and antibodies (anti A, anti B, anti A and B and no antibody) present in blood.

A blood group has antigen A on RBCs and anti-B antibody in plasma.
B blood group has antigen B and anti-A antibody in plasma.
AB blood group has both antigens A & B and no antibody in plasma.
O blood group has no antigen and both anti- A & anti-B antibodies in plasma.

The Rh factor determines the blood type as positive (+) or negative (-).

Blood compatibility

Blood group A can be given to A and O only.

Blood group B can be given to B and O only.

Blood group AB can be given to AB and O only.

Blood group O can be given to any blood type, specifically, O negative can be given to anybody as there is no antigen present on its cell surface.

Rh factor-

To a person with Rh-positive blood, Rh-positive or Rh-negative blood can be given. But people with Rh-negative blood should only get Rh-negative blood.

During pregnancy, problems can occur if a pregnant woman is Rh negative and her fetus is Rh positive. It is called Rh incompatibility. [8]

Fact check

Adequate supply of safe blood can only be achieved through regular, voluntary, unpaid donors. [7]
All donated blood should be screened for HIV, hepatitis B and C & syphilis. [7]
A single unit of blood can benefit several patients. [7]

O negative blood is universally accepted and can be given to any other blood type.
Red blood cells can be used within 42 days of storage.
Platelets must be used within 5 days of storage. [4]

The eligibility [6]

Healthy volunteers of age group between 18-65 years of age, weight at least 45 kg and Hb of at least 12.5grams can donate blood.
Healthy males can donate blood once in three months and women once in four months.
A donor shall not do any type of donation within 12 months after a bone marrow harvest and within 6 months after a peripheral stem cell harvest.
Pregnant women or recently delivered mother should be deferred for 12 months after delivery.
People with HIV/AIDS, syphilis and hepatitis, and injected with drugs at any point of life, must never give blood.

Before blood donation

Make sure your Hb in within normal range.
Eat iron-rich diet like beans, spinach, fish, red meat and iron-fortified cereals.
Have a sound sleep and drink lots of fluids.
No alcohol should be consumed before the donation day.
Stop taking blood thinning medication before 2-3 days, if any.

Day of blood donation

Drink extra water or non-alcoholic drink before donation.
Avoid fatty food like fries, burger etc.
Wear a shirt with loose sleeves that can be rolled up the elbows easily.
Take all prescriptions or medications with you, if any.
Bring a photo identity proof.
Talk to other donors or staff and relax.

After blood donation

Keep bandage on the area of prick for next several hours.
Keep sitting for few minutes after donating blood.
Eat refreshment given by the staff, you have earned it.
Do not do any strenuous exercise like weight lifting for the rest of the day.
If the site bleeds, apply pressure and raise arm for few minutes until bleeding stops.
In case of dizziness, lie down until you feel better.
Keep taking iron-rich diet to replace the lost iron store from body. [5]

Know about World Blood Donor Day 2018

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