Frequently asked questions on blood donation
- Part 1 -

Dr A Meina Singh *

Blood Donation at The Great June Uprising Observation at Kekrupat on June 18 2013 :: Pix - Deepak Oinam

1. What is blood? What are its components and their functions?

Blood is a vital specialized red coloured liquid connective tissue. It is composed of three types of cells i.e. Red blood cells (RBC), White blood cells (WBC) Platelets suspended in liquid plasma.

The functions of its parts are as follows:

o Red blood cells: Haemoglobin, the red pigment present in red cells carries oxygen to tissues and brings back carbon dioxide from the cells and tissues through lungs as exhaled air.

o White cells: in the defense mechanism of the body killing the organism entering the body.

o Platelets: in the clotting of and coagulation of blood.

o Plasma: It is a medium and vehicle for all the cells and many essential substances such as glucose, fats, proteins, enzymes, hormones, vitamins and many others are present in it.

2. What are important blood groups?

Among the 30 blood group systems known in humans so far, ABO and Rhesus systems are most important. Under this, general population is classified as Blood Group A, B, AB or O with either Rhesus positive or negative. Thus, there are 8 blood groups: A +ve, B +ve, AB + ve, O + ve, A - ve, B- ve, AB – ve and O –ve.

3. In what situations blood transfusion is required?

o Blood loss following accidents, massive bleeding during delivery of a baby etc

o Major surgical operations. Without blood transfusion, some major operations are not possible. Some operations such as heart operation, liver transplantation, etc requires a large number of blood units.

o Patients with specific blood diseases such as aplastic anemia, thalassemia, sickle cell anemia etc require blood transfusion throughout their life time.

o As a part of treatment of cancer particularly leukemia (blood cancers).

4. Why should we donate blood?

o Blood donation is great act of altruism saving lives. By donating blood voluntarily, you become a life saver, a perfect example of ALTRUISM in action and real patriot.

o Blood is a scarce resource, neither manufactured in any factory nor sold in the market; it is available only from human beings.

o When blood transfusion is required, only blood can replace it (BLOOD FOR BLOOD, no alternative to blood)

o The donated blood has limited storage time (e.g. expiry : Whole blood or red cell units: 35 days only in CPDA anticoagulant)

o Demand of blood is always greater than the supply. To compensate the demand-supply gap: need for VBD, hence, your blood is vital for saving lives

o Every time you donate blood, you help someone LIVE, you help some one's family remains happy.

o All those who require blood may not have enough relatives to replace the blood,

o To fulfill the blood needs of the country, we should donate blood.

5. Who is a voluntary blood donor (VBD)?

As per NACO (2007), a voluntary blood donor is a person who gives blood, plasma, or other components of his/her free will and receives no payment for it, either in the form of cash or in kind which would be considered a substitute for money. They are also known as voluntary non-remunerated blood donors (VNRBD) or unpaid donors.

6. Who is regular voluntary blood donor?

A regular VBD is one who donates blood 2-3 times a year and continues to donate at least once a year.

7. What is safe blood?

Safe blood is the unit of blood which has been collected from a healthy donor, tested and free from any transfusion transmissible infections (TTI) such as HIV, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B, syphilis, malaria and also from any dangerous substances harmful to the recipient such as antibodies etc and fit for transfusion.

8. Why voluntary blood donation is important and essential?

o Blood from a voluntary blood donor is SAFEST, more so from the regular/repeated voluntary blood donor because the blood donated by the repeated voluntary blood donor is tested every time the donor donates and found negative for ant TTI.

o Most VBDs are healthy, have high moral character and donate blood selflessly.

o VBDs stay away from intoxicants/abuses, their blood is good

o VBDs do not bother for anything in return

o VBDs respond promptly when called for donation especially in dire necessity or in rare blood group demands.

9. How the blood need of a country is calculated?

As per WHO, if 10/1000 population donate blood voluntarily, the blood need of the country will be met. In India, only 4/1000 of the population donates blood and needs to increase up to 8/1000 population for adequate blood supply of the country.

10. What is 100% voluntary blood donation?

A 100% VBD means that the blood collected or the blood needs of the country are only from the VNRBD, none from the replacement or other types of blood donors. In other words, the total need of blood for the country is met from the blood donated by voluntary blood donors. If 2% of the population of a country like India is motivated to donate blood annually, it'll be more than sufficient for the country.

It is the goal and call of WHO to all its member nations to obtain 100% of blood supplies from VNRBD by 2020. Till today only 62 countries of the world collect 100% of blood from VNRBD. In India, the states of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Tripura, Mizoram, Goa, Chandigarh, Haryana, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry and Sikkim have more than 80% voluntary blood collections.

11. What should I do if I want to donate blood and what are the steps of blood donation?

o Blood donation is a 30 minutes' SIMPLE 4-step procedure.

o Come to IHBT (Blood bank) Dept, RIMS any time between 10 am to 4 pm or to any outdoor blood donation camp organized by us. You also can go to any registered Blood Bank or Blood Donation Camps organized by licensed blood banks/SBTC/IRCS/organizations for blood donation.

o You will be asked about your personal details, to assess your present and past health status and recorded in a questionnaire form (Registration & Questionnaire).

o A mini health checkup such as your weight, BP, Pulse, temperature etc will be taken. A drop of blood will be taken from your finger tip and haemoglobin and blood group will be tested. If you are fit to donate, your consent for blood donation will be taken.

o You will be taken to the phlebotomy/blood donation room which is air conditioned in blood banks and blood will be collected. Blood donation will take only 5-7 minutes.

o You will be rested for 5-10 minutes and during which light refreshment will be served before you leave.

12. Who can donate blood?

A healthy person, male or female, between 18 to 65 years of age, weight not less than 45 kg, Hb 12.5 g/dl and above, BP: systolic 100-160 mm of Hg and diastolic 60-90 mm of Hg, Pulse 60-100/min, regular, normal body temperature; free from any chronic diseases such as heart diseases, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, cancer etc can donate blood.

13. Who cannot donate blood?

The list is very long. The doctor in blood bank will ask you questions related to your health to accept or defer your donation temporarily or permanently, if any. As such persons with diabetes, high blood pressure, cancers, bronchial asthma, chronic kidney diseases, chronic liver diseases, heart diseases, all hepatitis (except hepatitis A), HIV/AIDS, severe allergies, blood diseases, bleeding tendencies, endocrine diseases etc will be deferred permanently. Fever, vaccinations, tattooing, dog bite & rabies vaccination, medications, operations etc may defer you from donation for a few days to a year. For women, blood donation is not accepted during menstrual bleeding, pregnancy and lactation.

14. Where can one donate blood?

You can donate blood only in

o a licensed blood bank

o a blood donation camp organized by licensed government blood banks, IRCS and various organizations in collaboration with licensed blood banks.

15. What is self deferral?

It is a self assessment by the prospective blood donor whether he/she is fit to donate blood or not. Every blood donor should be aware of the criteria of blood donation and assess himself honestly for self deferral, by doing so, valuable resources, time for blood donation, blood processing will be saved.

16. What do I need to do before blood donation?

o Eat anything, preferably something (do not donate at fasting). Drink more fluids.

o Do not get nervous/anxiety, relax, no tension especially first timers.

o Eat light snacks and a non-alcoholic drink before donation (psychologically more comfortable)

17. What care should be taken during blood donation?

The blood bank people will take care of the blood donor.

18. Dos and don'ts after blood donation (Post donation care)?

o Drink fluid more than usual in next 4 hours

o Eat and drink something before leaving (tea, coffee, juice, water etc). Do not remain hungry for longer time.

o Leave the band aid for a few hours (5-6 hours)

o Do not drive at least for 30 minutes

o Do not climb long stairways for 30 minutes

o Do not smoke or chew tobacco for 30 minutes

o Do not take alcoholic drinks for at least 6 hours.

o Do not perform strenuous exercise such as weight lifting for 24 hours

o If dizziness or fainting occurs, lie down with foot end raised, head down, loosen clothing, belts etc, assure clear airway, or sit with head between knees.

o If bleeding occurs at the site of the phlebotomy site, apply pressure and raise the arm.

o If bluish hematoma (swelling) forms at the needle site, apply 'Thrombophob' ointment

o If vomiting occurs, don't worry, usually it's a relief.

o You can resume to your normal duties including routine driving.

o For any help, please contact directly to the blood bank or a nearby physician.

19. How much blood will be withdrawn from me?

In IHBT RIMS, we collect 350 ml of whole blood in a blood bag containing 49 ml of CPDA anticoagulant.

To be continued.....

(Issued for public awareness by: Dept. of Immunohaematology & Blood Transfusion, RIMS, Imphal-795004 )