Information on Voluntary Blood Donation

Q. When a patient requires transfusion of blood or blood products ?

Ans. – Many diseases may cause anemia or fall in haemoglobin level or there may be fall of any component level in blood of the patient. In Road traffic accident there may be massive haemorrhage. During surgery there is huge blood loss in some cases. In all these cases Doctors advise to transfuse blood or blood components as an emergency life saving device.

Q. Who is a voluntary blood donor ?

Ans.- A person whose age is in between 18 – 60 years and body weight at least 45 Kg and who is fit both mentally and physically and who has mot suffered from any major illness in last one year, may be a Voluntary blood donor.

Q. How many times a voluntary blood donor can donate blood and at what interval ?

Ans. – A blood donor can donate blood at an interval of 3 months. Hence, he/she can donate blood 4 times in a year and considering age group 18 – 60 years he/she can donate blood 168 times in lifetime.

Q. What are the responsibilities of a voluntary blood donor ?

Ans. – A blood donor is to give right information about his/her health condition to Doctor and health workers so that they can assess him/her well.

Q. Can a blood donor donate blood of he/she think so ?

Ans.- No, it is absolutely not so. A blood donor has to undergo a medical screening procedure. If Doctor permits him/her to donate blood then only he/she can donate, otherwise not. A person can not donate blood without undergoing medical examination.

Q. Is it necessary to donate in empty stomach ?

Ans. – No, absolutely no. A light meal is necessary before or after donation. If someone donates blood in empty stomach he/she may feel dizziness or reeling of head. Again, if someone donates after taking a heavy meal, there are chances of nausea, vomiting of donor as well as quality of donated blood is not of good standard (lipaemic plasma). On conclusion, it is necessary to take light meal before or after donation.

Q. - How much blood is there in our body ? If we donate blood, is there any damage to our body ?

Ans. – A normal healthy fully grown male carries 76 c.c. of blood /kg body weight and in case of female it is 66 c.c. of blood /kg body weight. All Physiological activities in our body require 50 c.c. of blood/kg body weight, the rest of blood is surplus to our body. We take out 6 -8 c.c. of blood/kg body weight during blood donation which is only a portion of surplus blood in our body. For example as it happens when someone donates his/her surplus money to other person. There is no damage to our body after blood donation.

Q. - How much blood we donate ?

Ans. – We donate 8 c.c./kg body weight which is only a part of surplus blood of our blood.

Q. – What is the law about the amount / volume of blood donation from a donor ?

Ans. – If we multiply 45 Kg, which is the minimum body weight of a donor with 8 c.c. of blood / kg body weight which is the amount of blood to be donated then it comes to 350 c.c. of blood which a donor can donate in our country. 49 c.c. is the volume of anticoagulant, collectively it comes to around 400 c.c. and along with weight of blood bag total weight becomes 450 gram approximately.

Q. – Is it necessary to take rest after blood donation or to take huge amount of food ?

Ans. – There is no need to take rest after blood donation, only hard physical labour or driving to be avoided within 24 hours of blood donation. It is better to take light meal before and after donation, after then one can take his/her normal meals.

Q. - What are the difficulties which may arise after blood donation ?

Ans. – Some donors become sick after blood donation especially during summer times. The donor finds darkness in his/her eyes, feels restless , pulse become feeble – in medical term we call it Vaso – Vagal attack. In this situation, the donor is to lie down in bed with the foot end raised. Crowd to be dispersed and the Medical Officer present there to be called on.
Sometimes the vein which is pricked may develop swelling and pain which is called Thrombophlebitis. In such cases one special ointment to be applied there which is to continue for 7 – 10 days and 2 – 3 times in a day. Initially rubbing of ice over that place causes comfort.

Q. - What are the different components of blood ?

Ans. -
BLOOD

Blood Cells Plasma
45% 55%
(It contains 92% water)

Red Blood White Blood Platelets
Corpuscles Corpuscles

Q. - How many days blood can be stored in blood bank?

Ans. - Whole blood and packed cell can be stored upto 35 days in blood bank. Packed or concentrated RBC can be stored upto 42 days if it is collected in SAGM bags. Platelets are stored upto 5 days. Plasma can be stored upto 1 year.

Q. - What are the advantages a donor gets after blood donation from blood bank?

Ans. - One donor has to undergo heath check up before blood donation. If he/she has any health problem can be detected during that check up especially donor’s blood pressure is checked before donation. Donor gets one credit card which is valid for 1 year. If donor wants blood for self then he/she can get it free of cost. For non donor recipient it is given at a subsidized prefixed price. This is applicable for whole blood, packed cell and plasma only and subjected to availability of the particular blood group and that particular component. Donor also gets one metal badge or certificate of honour. Blood test report and blood group report is given to donor within 35 days of donation from blood bank.

Q. - Is there any chance of infection during blood donation?

Ans. - No. we use blood bag system during blood donation which can be used once only. Hence, there is no chance of infection.

Q. - What are the tests done with the donated blood?

Ans. - The following tests are done with the donated blood unit:

(1) HIV (I & II) by ELISA method
(2) HBsAg by ELISA method
(3) HCV by ELISA method
(4) VDRL by RPR method
(5) Malaria Parasite by slide method

Blood haemoglobin of the donor is also checked before donation.
Blood Grouping and Cross Matching with the recipient blood sample.

Q. - Is there any blood sugar check up done with the donated blood?

Ans. - No.

Q. - What are the responsibilities of a donor after blood donation?

Ans. - Blood donor is to collect donor credit card, blood group report and blood test report as well as the metal badge or the certificate. He is to be aware of rules and regulation to collect blood from blood bank. Donor is also to donate blood at regular intervals and feel the greatness of blood donation.

Q. - How much time our body takes to generate the blood which is donated out?

Ans. - 21 days.