Introduc Criteria Donor
tion to for recruitm
Blood selectio ent &
Transfus n of registrat
ion. donors. ion.
Introduction to Blood Transfusion.
Blood transfusion is a life saving measure
and should be carried out when it is
absoluetly essential.
Common situations in which blood
transfusion is indicated are:
Blood loss : Severe blood loss is the most
important indication for blood transfusion.
For quick restoration of hemoglobin : In
patients which severe anemia is required in
situations like pregancy and emergency
surgery.
Exchange transfusion : is required in
hemolytic disease of newborn.
Blood diseases : like aplastic anemia,
agranulocytosis, leukemia, hemophilla and
clotting defects may be require blood
transfusion.
Acute poisoning : e.g. carbon monoxide
poisoning.
Criteria for selection of donor &
Donor recruitment & registration
Steps in selection of blood donors (Donor
Screening)
All donors who come to the Transfusion centre are
screened to ensure that they are in good health.
This helps in avoiding transmission of
infection/occurrence of any other untoward effect
to the recipient and also protects the donor.
There are four aspects of donor screening
1. Donor registration
2. Medical history
3. Physical examination
4. Laboratory testing
1. Donor registration:
The following information must be carefully recorded
to enable the Transfusion centre to contact the donor,
if required, at a later date.
Donation date and time.
Name of the donor
Father’s /Husband’s name
Age
Gender
Occupation
Address with Telephone numbers.
Blood group, if known
Records of these details as filled in the form are
maintained in the blood bank for 10years
2. Medical History:
A qualified and trained person must take a
detailed medical history of each donor. If the
donor is found to have any abnormal condition he
must be referred to the Physician of the
transfusion centre who will decide if blood is to
be collected.
The donor may be provided with educational
material informing them of high risk activities for
transmission of HIV infection. They should be
informed of the significance of not donating blood
if they have indulged in any of these activities.
Donors must also be ensured that all this
information will be kept confidential.
High risk activities for
transmission of HIV infection
Homosexual male (male donors who have
had sex with another male)
Males or females who have had sex with
multiple partners
Commercial sex workers
Intravenous drug abusers
Professional paid donors
Symptoms suggestive of HIV infection
experienced in last 6 months
Unexpected weight loss> 10% of original
weight
Night sweats
Unexplained fever > 99°C for more than10
days
Lymphadenopathy
Persistent diarrhea
Persistent cough with expectoration
Certain aspects in the history may make a
donor unfit for donation temporarily or
permanently. These points must be enquired
from the donor carefully.
Causes of permanent and temporary deferral
are given below.
Causes of permanent deferral of
donors
High risk group for HIV infection as given
above
HIV antibody positive
Cardiovascular disease/heart disorders: myocardial
infarction, angina, coronary artery disease on
medication
Patients who have undergone open heart surgery
Patients with Hepatitis B virus/Hepatitis C virus
infection
Malignant diseases
Abnormal bleeding tendency
Severe allergic disorder
Polycythemia vera
Chronic liver disease
Chronic kidney disease
Donors on drugs such as anticonvulsants,
anticoagulants, antithyroid drugs, cytotoxic
drugs, immunosuppressive drugs,
vasodilators, insulin.
Causes for temporary deferral of
donors
Condition Period of deferral
Major surgery 1 year
Minor surgery 6 month
Dental manipulation 3 days
Dental surgery 1 month
Transfusion with blood/components 1 year
Exposure to hepatitis by
tattoo/contact with 1 year
hepatitis patient.
Travel to area endemic for malaria 1 year after return
Malaria 3 months after
treatment
Syphilis 1 year
Abortion 6
months
Tuberculosis 5
years
Pregnancy 6
months
3. Physical examination:
After the history all donors must be examined
carefully to ensure their physical fitness. The
following criteria must be met:
1. Age 18-65 years
2. Weight- If the donor weighs more than 45kg, he
can donate 350ml of blood and donors weighing
more than 60kg can donate 450ml blood.
3. Blood pressure must be normal.
4. Pulse: between 80-100/min, regular.
5. Afebrile i.e. body temperature not > 37. 5°C.
6. Venipuncture site must be free of any lesion.
4. Laboratory Tests
Certain laboratory tests are performed on
donors prior to collection of blood.
1. Hemoglobin : Hb estimation is done
prior to each donation by any of these
methods:
To be fit for donation the Hb must be greater
than 12.5g/dl
2. Serological tests.
3. Blood grouping must be done on all
donors.
4. Record all results on the donor form.
Types of Donors
There are four types of donors :
Voluntary/unpaid donors : are those who donate blood
of their own free will and do not receive any monetary
benefit for the donation.
Paid/professional donors : receive payment for
donation of blood.
Replacement donors : are friends and relatives of the
patient who replace the unit of blood issued to the patient.
Autologous : donors are those who donate blood for their
own
Note : The World Health Organization recommends
that the donor base should mostly be voluntary.
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