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Blood Bank

Donors

The entire donor process, from initial screening through collection and managing any reactions, is meticulously designed to ensure the integrity and safety of the blood supply, starting with the well-being and suitability of the volunteer donor. Each type of donation serves a purpose, guided by specific regulations and best practices

Donor Qualification

  • Goal: Protect both the donor’s health and the recipient’s safety
  • Process: Involves thorough screening based on FDA regulations and AABB standards. Includes:
    • Registration/ID: Linking the donor to their history and the unit
    • Education: Informing donors about risks and the importance of honesty
    • Donor Health History Questionnaire (DHQ): Detailed questions about health, travel, medications, and risk behaviors
    • Mini-Physical: Checking Hgb/Hct, blood pressure, pulse, temperature, weight, and arms
    • Informed Consent: Formal agreement to donate
  • Outcome: Donor is either accepted or deferred (temporarily, indefinitely, or permanently) based on eligibility criteria

Collection Methods

  • Whole Blood Donation: The standard method; collecting ~500 mL of blood into a bag with anticoagulant-preservative. This unit is later processed into components (RBCs, plasma, sometimes platelets). Requires strict aseptic technique during venipuncture
  • Apheresis (Hemapheresis): Uses a machine to draw blood, separate a specific component (platelets, plasma, double red cells, granulocytes, stem cells), and return the remaining parts to the donor. Allows for larger yields of specific components from one donor. Uses citrate anticoagulant, which is returned to the donor

Adverse Reactions

  • Generally Safe: Most donations occur without incident
  • Common Reactions
    • Vasovagal: Fainting/near-fainting (most common), due to nerve response, not blood loss volume. Managed by positioning (legs up), cool compresses, reassurance
    • Hematoma: Bruising at the needle site. Managed with pressure and cold packs
  • Less Common Reactions: Nerve irritation (sharp pain), arterial puncture (rare), allergic reactions (to disinfectant, etc.)
  • Apheresis-Specific: Citrate reaction (tingling, chills due to temporary low calcium). Managed by slowing return or giving calcium
  • Key Management: Recognize symptoms early, act quickly following protocol, prioritize donor safety, document everything

Special Donations

  • Autologous: Donating blood for one’s own future use (e.g., before surgery). Safer for the donor-recipient regarding disease/alloimmunization but has specific criteria (lower Hgb allowed) and strict labeling (“For Autologous Use Only”)
  • Directed (Designated): Donating for a specific, named recipient. Donor must meet all standard allogeneic criteria. No proven safety benefit over regular donations. Requires irradiation if from a blood relative
  • Apheresis: As described above, often considered ‘special’ due to the targeted component collection
  • Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells (HPCs): Stem cell collection (marrow, peripheral blood via apheresis, cord blood) for transplantation. Requires extensive screening and HLA matching
  • Therapeutic Phlebotomy: Blood removal as medical treatment for the donor (e.g., hemochromatosis, polycythemia). Blood might be usable for transfusion if the donor meets all allogeneic criteria, otherwise discarded