Give Blood.

Donating blood is a simple thing

to do, but it can make a big
difference in the lives of others.

DID YOU KNOW?

All About Blood Types

Although all blood is made of the same basic elements, not all
blood is alike. In fact, there are eight different common blood
types, which are determined by the presence or absence of certain
antigens substances that can trigger an immune response if they
are foreign to the body. Since some antigens can trigger a patient's
immune system to attack the transfused blood, safe blood
transfusions depend on careful blood typing and cross-matching.

In addition to the A and B antigens, there is a third antigen

called the Rh factor, which can be either present (+) or
absent ( ). In general, Rh negative blood is given to Rhnegative patients, and Rh positive blood or Rh negative
blood may be given to Rh positive patients.
The universal red cell donor has Type O negative blood type.
The universal plasma donor has Type AB positive blood type.

Blood Components

How can one donation help multiple people?

In modern medical treatments, patients
may receive a pint of whole blood or just
specific components of the blood needed to
treat their particular condition. Up to four
components can be derived from donated
blood. This approach to treatment, referred
to as blood component therapy, allows
several patients to benefit from one pint of
donated
whole
blood.
The
main
transfusable blood components include:

Whole
Blood
Whole
blood contains red cells, white cells, and platelets
(~45% of volume) suspended in plasma (~55% of
volume).

Red cells
Red cells, or erythrocytes, carry oxygen from the lungs
to your bodys tissue and take carbon dioxide back to
your lungs to be exhaled.

Platelets
Platelets, or thrombocytes, are small, colorless cell
fragments in the blood whose main function is to
interact with clotting proteins to stop or prevent
bleeding.

Plasma
Plasma is a fluid, composed of about 92% water, 7%
vital proteins such as albumin, gamma globulin, antihemophilic factor, and other clotting factors, and 1%
mineral salts, sugars, fats, hormones and vitamins.

What Happens to Donated

Blood?

Step 1: The Donation

Donor registers
Health history and mini physical are
completed
About 1 pint of blood and several small
test tubes are collected from each
donor
The bag, test tubes and the donor
record are labeled with an identical bar
code label to keep track of the
donation
The donation is stored in iced coolers
until it is transported to a Red Cross
center

Step 2: Processing
Donated blood is scanned into a
computer database
Most blood is spun in centrifuges to
separate the transfusable
components red cells, platelets,
and plasma
The primary components like
plasma, can be further
manufactured into components
such as cryoprecipitate
Red cells are then leuko-reduced
Single donor platelets are
leukoreduced and bacterially
tested.
Test tubes are sent for testing.

 Steps 2 and 3 take place in parallel

The test tubes are received in one of
three Red Cross National Testing
Laboratories
A dozen tests are performed on each
unit of donated blood to establish
the blood type and test for infectious
diseases
Test
results
are
transferred
electronically to the manufacturing
facility within 24 hours
If a test result is positive, the unit is
discarded and the donor is notified.
Test results are confidential and are
only shared with the donor, except
as may be required by law

 When test results are received, units

suitable for transfusion are labeled
and stored
Red Cells are stored in refrigerators at
6C for up to 42 days
Platelets
are
stored
at
room
temperature in agitators for up to five
days
Plasma and cryo are frozen and stored
in freezers for up to one year

Blood is available to be shipped to

hospitals 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week

Thank
you