Blood donation is a process by which a blood donor voluntarily has blood drawn for storage in a blood bank or for subsequent use in a blood transfusion. Free will is the philosophical doctrine that holds that our choices are ultimately up to ourselves. ... Human blood smear: a - erythrocytes; b - neutrophil; c - eosinophil; d - lymphocyte. ... A blood bank is a cache or bank of blood or blood components, gathered as a result of blood donation, stored and preserved for later use in blood transfusions. ... Blood transfusion is the taking of blood or blood-based products from one individual and inserting them into the circulatory system of another. ...

Blood donation

To understand the importance of the availability of a sustainable donated blood supply, the catch-cry of the Australian Red Cross Blood Service is, "80% of Australians will need blood in their lifetime, but less than 3% of Australians give blood each year." In the United States, the odds of knowing someone who will need blood are "97%", according to that branch of the Red Cross. According to polling conducted by Canadian Blood Services, 52% of Canadians have needed blood or know someone who has. Download high resolution version (600x897, 93 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (600x897, 93 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... The Australian Red Cross Blood Service (ARCBS) is a branch of the Australian Red Cross. ... Canadian Blood Services is a national, not-for-profit charitable organization that manages the blood supply in all provinces and territories outside of Quebec and oversees the countrys Unrelated Bone Marrow Donor Registry. ...

Blood donations may be scheduled at local centres, or at times a "blood drive" will occur. These are events where a blood bank or other blood collecting organization will set up in a convenient location—such as a shopping centre, large employer, university, or a local church—for people to stop in without appointment during their daily routine to donate blood. Sometimes a bloodmobile is used to run a blood drive. Usually a modified recreational vehicle, it is an easy place to run a blood drive because it is already set up for the process of blood donation. Many blood banks have several bloodmobiles so they can serve many people at once. In North America the term recreational vehicle and its derived acronym, RV, are generally used to refer to an enclosed piece of equipment dually used as both a vehicle, a temporary travel home or a full time home. ... A blood bank is a cache or bank of blood or blood components, gathered as a result of blood donation, stored and preserved for later use in blood transfusions. ...

Process

The process of giving blood involves screening the donor, the actual donation, and a brief recovery period. This applies to both whole blood donations and plasmapheresis (donating only one's plasma) - see Donation below. Plasmapheresis is the removal of (components of) blood plasma from the circulation. ...

Before arriving at the donation site

In the days prior to donating blood, it is important that donors prepare themselves for a process that can temporarily weaken the body. Donors should check their local blood bank's guidelines, as requirements and recommendations vary. Many blood banks recommend that potential donors drink extra water and fluids before donating. ^[1][2][3] It may be advisable to avoid caffeinated beverages before donation.^[3] Eating well is also important, and can reduce the risk of reactions to donation.^[1][2] Eating foods high in iron (which has many dietary sources) is also a good idea; low hemoglobin levels may make a donor temporarily ineligible.^[1][2][3] This is especially true for women who have menstruated recently, because of iron loss in the menses.^{[citation needed]} Some countries require donors to observe a limited or full fast before donation because of specific screen methods; in particular, some countries will discard blood taken too soon after a fatty meal.^[3] General Name, Symbol, Number iron, Fe, 26 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 8, 4, d Appearance lustrous metallic with a grayish tinge Atomic mass 55. ... 3-dimensional structure of hemoglobin. ...

Screening

Western countries typically impose screening for blood donor candidates. In the past, it was the practice in America and other countries to separate blood donations on the basis of race, ethnicity, or religion, or to exclude certain groups from the donor pool on those bases. Currently, in the United States, these practices have been eliminated, and donor attributes are considered only in terms of their likelihood to affect the probability of transmission of disease. All blood products in the U.S. are labeled as coming from either "paid" or "volunteer" donors, with paid units being more likely to transmit infection. (Several other countries avoid paid donations altogether for this reason.)

Other donor characteristics are also taken into account: starting in 1985, the American Red Cross and Food and Drug Administration policies prohibit accepting blood donations from gay/bisexual men, specifically from any "male who has had sex with another male since 1977, even once," ^[4] or from IV drug users or recent immigrants from certain nations with high rates of HIV infection. While the inclusion of homosexual/bisexual men on the prohibited list has created some controversy, the FDA & Red Cross cite the public policy need to protect the blood supply from HIV & similar diseases as justification for the ban. Policies vary in other countries; for instance, Australia formerly had a similar ban, but now only prohibits donating blood within one year after male-male sex (longer than the typical window period for HIV blood screening tests performed on donated blood). This article is about the year. ... A WWII-era poster encouraged American women to volunteer for the Red Cross as part of the war effort. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... An intravenous drip in a hospital Intravenous therapy or IV therapy is the administration of liquid substances directly into a vein. ... Human immunodeficiency virus (commonly known as HIV, and formerly known as HTLV-III and lymphadenopathy-associated virus) is a retrovirus that is the cause of the disease known as AIDS, or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, a syndrome where the immune system begins to fail, leading to many life-threatening opportunistic infections. ... In medicine, the window period for a test designed to detect a specific disease (particularly infectious disease) is the time between first infection and when the test can detect that infection. ... The risk of transmitting HIV infection to blood transfusion recipients has been drastically reduced by improved donor selection and sensitive serologic screening assays in many countries. ...

Similarly important donor eligibility requirement in the US is related to concerns about variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD): persons who have spent long periods of time in countries where "mad cow disease" is found ^[5], are not eligible to donate. As part of the screening interview, blood donors are questioned about past residency in countries on the exclusion list, tracing back as far as 1980. The list of countries of residence that may disqualify a potential donor, includes most of Western Europe (with stronger restrictions on those with past residence in the United Kingdom), Turkey, and all of Eastern Europe except Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and the Baltic countries (those formerly part of the Soviet Union). From 1980 through 1996, if a person visited or resided in country on the exclusion list for a time that adds up to five years or more, such person is not eligible to donate; if a person spent time that adds up to three months or more in any country within the United Kingdom, they are indefinitely deferred. Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) is a very rare and incurable degenerative neurological disorder (brain disease) that is ultimately fatal. ... The three Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania The terms Baltic countries, Baltic Sea countries, Baltic states, and Balticum refer to slightly different combinations of countries in the general area surrounding the Baltic Sea. ...

When a donor arrives at a donation site, they typically fill out a consent form as well as answer an extensive questionnaire to help determine their eligibility. Questions include the donors' age, weight, most recent donation, current health, and various risk factors such as tattooing, drug use (recreational or performance enhancing), residency abroad, recent international travel, and sexual history. Answers are associated with the donor's blood, but not name, to provide anonymity. Consent (as a term of jurisprudence) is a possible justification against civil or criminal liability. ... A questionnaire (also known as self-administered survey) is a type of survey handed out in paper form usually to a specific demographic to gather information in order to provider better service or goods. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Ageing. ... // Technical usage in physical sciences Established official technical definition : In the physical sciences, the weight of an object has a particular technical meaning. ... Leopard on shoulder A tattoo is a mark made by inserting pigment into the skin: in technical terms, tattooing is micro-pigment implantation. ... A psychoactive drug or psychotropic substance is a chemical that alters brain function, resulting in temporary changes in perception, mood, consciousness, or behavior. ... Recreational drug use is the use of psychoactive drugs for recreational purposes rather than for work, medical or spiritual purposes, although the distinction is not always clear. ... Travel is the transport of people on a trip or journey. ... Coition of a Hemisected Man and Woman (c. ...

Often the blood hemoglobin concentration will be checked next, typically performed by a phlebotomist. While various tests exist, the most common ones are: 3-dimensional structure of hemoglobin. ... A phlebotomist is an individual trained to draw blood (venipuncture), either for laboratory tests, or for blood donations. ...

• hematocrit: done in some places. requires a centrifuge. A measurement of no less than 38% allows donation to continue.
• colorimetric hemoglobin test using a hemoglobin photometer: a machine-read result from a chemical reaction on a testing strip.
• copper sulfate screening test (aka "float test"): measures the specific gravity of the donor's blood by placing a drop into a copper sulfate solution. The solution is calibrated so that a hemoglobin concentration of in >12.5 g/dl (the cut-off in the U.S. for donation) sinks.

Additionally, the donor may indicate to not use their blood but still go through the blood drawing process, again to protect the individual's medical privacy. All blood is later tested for diseases including STDs. If a disease is found, the donor will be notified and their blood discarded. It is discouraged for individuals to use blood donation for the purpose of anonymous STD screening. The hematocrit (Ht or HCT) and packed cell volume (PCV) are measures of the proportion of blood volume that is occupied by red blood cells. ... A laboratory centrifuge tabletop centrifuge A centrifuge is a piece of equipment that puts a substance in rotation around a fixed axis in order for the centrifugal force to separate a fluid from a fluid or from a solid substance. ... Relative density (also known as specific gravity) is a measure of the density of a material. ... Copper (II) sulfate (CuSO4) is the most common copper salt, made by the action of sulfuric acid on the base copper oxide. ... The main subject of medical privacy is the medical record which historically has been a paper file of the entire medical history of the patient. ... Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)— also known as sexually transmissible diseases, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or (infrequently) venereal diseases (VD) — are diseases or infections that have a significant probability of transmission between humans by means of sexual contact: vaginal intercourse, oral sex, and/or anal sex. ... Screening, in medicine, is a strategy used to identify disease in an unsuspecting population. ...

Donation

Disinfect, insert the cannula, pull out the cannula, dress the wound.

The blood donation itself happens next. The donor lies supine on a cushioned bench and extends an arm. The inner elbow is disinfected, and a cannula is inserted into a vein. The donor often has a tourniquet wrapped around his or her arm, or may be prompted to squeeze a ball repeatedly, to help speed the process. Blood flows from the vein, through the needle and a tube, and into a special collection bag which is placed on a small scale to measure the amount of blood withdrawn. Typically, around 500 millilitres, about a pint, is drawn during the blood donation process. Download high resolution version (1920x640, 54 KB)Blood donation. ... Download high resolution version (1920x640, 54 KB)Blood donation. ... Elbow redirects here. ... A cannula (pl. ... In biology, a vein is a blood vessel which carries blood toward the heart. ... A tourniquet is a tightly tied band applied around a body part (an arm or a leg) in an attempt to stop severe traumatic bleeding. ... A doctors scale A weighing scale (usually just scale in common usage) is a device for measuring the weight of an object. ... The millilitre is the equivalent of a cubic centimetre. ... The pint is a unit of volume or capacity. ...

A relatively large-bore needle is used for whole blood donations.

A mechanical tray tilts the bag to prevent congealing, and displays current volume and flow per minute.

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1632x1224, 396 KB) Summary This photo was taken by myself (camera phone) of my right arm at an Australian Red Cross blood bank (Sydney), and is free for use/distribution. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1632x1224, 396 KB) Summary This photo was taken by myself (camera phone) of my right arm at an Australian Red Cross blood bank (Sydney), and is free for use/distribution. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1632x1224, 354 KB) Summary This photo was taken by myself (camera phone) at an Australian Red Cross blood bank, and is free for use/distribution. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1632x1224, 354 KB) Summary This photo was taken by myself (camera phone) at an Australian Red Cross blood bank, and is free for use/distribution. ...

Apheresis

Rather than donating whole blood, a donor sometimes has the option to donate only some blood components while retaining others. This process is known as apheresis, and is more involved, time consuming, and requires more specialized equipment. The benefit is that more of the desired components can be concentrated and removed, and the donor is usually able to donate significantly more frequently than if whole blood had been removed. In some cases, the usefulness of the removed components is not as sensitive to blood type considerations. Whole blood enters the centrifuge on the left and separates into layers so that selected components can be drawn off on the right. ... A total of 29 human blood group systems are recognized by the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT). ...

The typical method of apheresis is to draw whole blood from the donor, then centrifuge the blood to separate its components (see apheresis for more information). The desired components (e.g. platelets, plasma) are removed and then the remaining components are returned to the donor. Centrifugation is a process that involves the use of the centrifugal force for the separation of mixtures. ... Whole blood enters the centrifuge on the left and separates into layers so that selected components can be drawn off on the right. ... A 250 ml bag of newly collected platelets. ... Blood plasma is the liquid component of blood, in which the blood cells are suspended. ...

Recovery

Once the donation is complete, the donor is given a bandage or gauze to stop further blood flow and is normally allowed to leave. Beverages and snacks may be provided to restore blood volume and blood sugar, and to settle the stomach. Often donors are encouraged to sit down for a few minutes to return to normality, as lightheadedness and faintness may occur. In some countries, stickers are worn by donors to show the donor's pride and to encourage others to give. The entire process, from screening through recovery, takes about one hour. The actual blood donation takes between four and fifteen minutes. Donors are discouraged from heavy exercise or lifting until the next day. Plasma volumes will return to normal in around 24 hours, while red blood cells are replaced by bone marrow into the circulatory system within about 3-5 weeks, and lost iron replaced over 6-8 weeks. This recovery process can be speeded by eating foods high in complex carbohydrates, iron, and other trace minerals. Due to the time frame required for iron replacement, donors are eligible to donate whole blood approximately eight to twelve weeks after the previous donation (the exact period varying by country); in the USA, the waiting period for the two red cell units apheresis donors is 112 days. Theres also a song called Bandages by the American alternative rock group Hot Hot Heat which appears on the 2002 album Make Up the Breakdown. ... For the Japanese Hardcore Punk Band, see Gauze. ... In medicine, blood sugar is a term used to refer to levels of glucose in the blood. ... Carbohydrates are chemical compounds that contain oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon atoms, and no other elements. ...

Storage

Cryopreservation of red blood cells is done to store special, rare red blood cells for up to 10 years. The cells are first incubated in a 40% glycerol solution which acts as a cryoprotectant ("antifreeze") within the cells. The units are then placed in special sterile containers in a deep freezer at less than -60°C. Cryopreservation of plant shoots. ... Cells in culture, stained for keratin (red) and DNA (green). ... Glycerol, also well known as glycerin and glycerine, and less commonly as propane-1,2,3-triol, 1,2,3-propanetriol, 1,2,3-trihydroxypropane, glyceritol, and glycyl alcohol is a colorless, odorless, hygroscopic, and sweet-tasting viscous liquid. ... A cryoprotectant is a substance that is used to protect biological tissue from freezing damage (damage due to ice formation). ...

Baby Donors

A tiny percentage of adults may donate blood to small children in emergency rooms, newborn babies, and fetuses. To be recognized as a baby donor by the Red Cross, an adult must be blood type O-negative and must test negative for Cytomegalovirus. Since only 7% of US adults are universal donors and as few as 15% of adults do not carry Cytomegalovirus, only 1% of adults may qualify as baby donors. Other restrictions (body weight, HIV status, vCJD, etc... ) reduce the fraction of potential baby donors to less than 1 in 200. If an adult was not exposed to Measles, Mumps, Rubella, or chicken pox, that amplifies the person's status as a baby donor. A total of 29 human blood group systems are recognized by the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT). ... Species see text Cytomegalovirus (CMV), is a genus of Herpes viruses; in humans the species is known as Human herpesvirus 5 (HHV-5). ... Rubella (also known as epidemic roseola, German measles, liberty measles or three-day measles) is a disease caused by the Rubella virus. ... Chicken pox, also spelled chickenpox, is a common childhood disease caused by the varicella_zoster virus (VZV), also known as human herpes virus 3 (HHV_3), one of the eight herpesviruses known to affect humans. ...

Newborn babies that require multiple surgeries often need up to 20 units of blood in their first few weeks.

Complications

Finger prick and needle insertion typically cause only minor discomfort. Phlebotomists may however experience difficulties in obtaining enough blood from some donors. A phlebotomist is an individual trained to draw blood (venipuncture), either for laboratory tests, or for blood donations. ...

During or shortly after the donation, hypovolemia may occasionally lead to a drop in blood pressure with some donors experiencing light-headedness or fainting. In some cases this may necessitate cancelling the donation, restoring blood volume with an intravenous infusion, or placing the donor in a Trendelenburg position (on a stretcher tilted "legs up"). Beverages may be given to further replenish blood volume, and the donor may have to remain in a horizontal position for a while under monitoring. Most blood banks encourage donors to rest for several minutes after donation (often while eating and drinking) to let them adjust to the loss of blood and reduce the risk of these problems. In physiology and medicine, hypovolemia is a state of decreased blood volume; more specifically, decrease in volume of blood plasma. ... Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by the blood on the walls of the blood vessels. ... Syncope may also refer to a linguistic phenomenon. ... An intravenous drip in a hospital Intravenous therapy or IV therapy is the administration of liquid substances directly into a vein. ... An infusion is a beverage made by steeping a flavoring substance in hot or boiling water. ... In the Trendelenburg position the body is laid flat on the back with the head lower than the pelvis, in contrast to the reverse trendelenburg position. ...

In less than 1% of cases, improperly inserting the needle is followed by bruising of the arm in the weeks afterwards.^[6] Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1000x751, 99 KB) Summary Own photo Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ...

Negative medical reactions to blood donation are rare and blood bank staff are trained to handle them.

Benefits

Donating blood may reduce risk for heart disease^{[citation needed]}, and stimulates the generation of red blood cells. In patients prone to iron overload (e.g. due to hemochromatosis), blood donation prevents the accumulation of iron. Haemochromatosis, also spelled hemochromatosis, is a hereditary disease characterized by improper processing by the body of dietary iron which causes iron to accumulate in a number of body tissues, eventually causing organ dysfunction. ...

Anecdotally, elderly people in good health have reported feeling invigorated by giving blood on a regular basis.

Autologous donation

A person who anticipates the need for a blood transfusion at a later date (usually because of scheduled surgery) may make an autologous donation, in which their blood is stored and later transfused back into its original donor. Besides ensuring the availability of compatible blood (especially important for patients with rare blood types), this procedure also eliminates the risk of disease transmission from infected donors. In biology, autologous refers to cells, tissues or even proteins that are reimplanted in the same individual as they come from. ... A total of 29 human blood group systems are recognized by the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT). ...

See also

• List of blood donation agencies
• Blood transfusion
• Plateletpheresis

Americas Blood Centers, the largest provider of blood in the United States American Red Cross Give Life, a subsidiary of the ARC American Association of Blood Banks New York Blood Center Australian Red Cross Blood Service Canadian Blood Services Irish Blood Transfusion Service Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion... Blood transfusion is the taking of blood or blood-based products from one individual and inserting them into the circulatory system of another. ... Plateletpheresis (also called thrombapheresis or thrombocytapheresis) is a special type of blood donation that only extracts platelets, the cells that cause blood clotting, from the blood. ...

References

2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... July 3 is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 181 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... July 3 is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 181 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... July 3 is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 181 days remaining. ... June 9 is the 160th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (161st in leap years), with 205 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... June 9 is the 160th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (161st in leap years), with 205 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) is part of the US National Library of Medicine (NLM), which is a branch of the US National Institutes of Health. ... June 9 is the 160th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (161st in leap years), with 205 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Blood Donation and Processing
• FAQs and donor information from the American Red Cross
• USA Directory of Blood Donation Centers
• Bloodmobile.org