Blood Donation
A blood donation occurs when a person voluntarily has blood drawn and used for transfusions and/or made into biopharmaceutical medications by a process called fractionation (separation of whole-blood components). Donation may be of whole blood (WB), or of specific components directly (the latter called apheresis). Blood banks often participate in the collection process as well as the procedures that follow it.
Today, in the developed world, most blood donors are unpaid volunteers who donate blood for a community supply. In poorer countries, established supplies are limited and donors usually give blood when family or friends need a transfusion (directed donation). Many donors donate as an act of charity, but in countries that allow paid donation some donors are paid, and in some cases there are incentives other than money such as paid time off from work. Donors can also have blood drawn for their own future use (autologous donation). Donating is relatively safe, but some donors have bruising where the needle is inserted or may feel faint.
Potential donors are evaluated for anything that might make their blood unsafe to use. The screening includes testing for diseases that can be transmitted by a blood transfusion, including HIV and viral hepatitis. The donor must also answer questions about medical historyand take a short physical examination to make sure the donation is not hazardous to his or her health. How often a donor can give varies from days to months based on what he or she donates and the laws of the country where the donation takes place. For example, in the United States, donors must wait eight weeks (56 days) between whole blood donations but only seven days between platelet pheresis donations.[1]
The amount of blood drawn and the methods vary. The collection can be done manually or with automated equipment that only takes specific portions of the blood. Most of the components of blood used for transfusions have a short shelf life, and maintaining a constant supply is a persistent problem. This has led to some increased interest inautotransfusion, whereby a patient's blood is salvaged during surgery for continuous reinfusion — or alternatively, is "self-donated" prior to when it will be needed.
Why is it important for me to give blood?
Donating blood is an active way of helping others and the whole of society.
For you, it's just a few moments out of your day but for patients in need, it may save their life.
Specialist medical staff are on hand at all times during the donation, which is a simple, safe and painless procedure. There is no risk for donors of giving blood, and it may help patients in Catalonia recover more quickly.
Donations - the only way of obtaining blood
Despite medical and technological advances, blood cannot currently be made. The only way of getting hold of it is via blood donations from people who give blood.
Each donation may help up to three different people
Because each blood donation provides three different blood components, each with its own role in treating patients, it helps up to three different people.
Blood and its components have a limited life
- Red blood cell concentrates can be kept for 42 days
- Plasma can be stored for a year
- Platelets can be kept for five days
Blood is used every day: we need 1.000 donations per day in Catalonia
Because the need for blood is constant, so is the need for donations. Every day, all the hospitals and clinics in Catalonia need blood and blood components to treat patients, since most surgical interventions and a great number of medical procedures require blood transfusions.
Giving blood - part of our routine
We don't just need to give blood in the event of tragedies or emergencies. Instead, it should be a normal and routine part of our lives. Regular blood donations mean that there will be sufficient amounts of safe blood in stock.
Remember that men can give blood up to four times a year - women up to three times -providing there are at least two months between donations.
Blood use is growing
Transfusions of blood and blood components have become an essential part of healthcare today. The increase in life expectancy, the creation of specialist intensive-care units, and the essential and ongoing needs of certain patients suffering diseases that were previously considered to be incurable, mean that the demand for blood continues to grow.
Apheresis provides 140% more plasma than a conventional blood donation.
