About Blood
Functioning of Blood Centre
Blood donations help Lakhs of patients in need. To make the journey from “arm to arm,” every unit goes through a series of steps and tests to ensure that it is as safe as can be.
The Donation
- ]Donor Registration
- ]Health History & Mini-Physical Examination
- ]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 Insulated Box until it is transported to the Patients
Processing
- ]Donated blood is scanned into a computer database
- ]Most blood is spun in centrifuges to separate the transfusable components – Red cells, Plasma and Platelets
- ]The primary components like plasma, can be further manufactured into components such as Cryoprecipitate
- ]Single Donor Platelets are leuko reduced
- ]Test tubes are sent for screening of Transfusion Transmitted Infection
Testing
Steps 2 and 3 take place in parallel.
- ]A multiple tests are performed on each unit of donated blood – to establish the blood type and test for Transfusion Transmitted Infection
- ]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
Storage
- ]When test results are received, units suitable for transfusion are labeled and stored
- ]Red Cells are stored in refrigerators at 2º to 6ºC for up to 35 or 42 days
- ]Platelets & SDP are stored at room temperature 20º to 24ºC in agitators for up to five days
- ]Plasma and Cryo are frozen and stored in freezers below -18 ºC up to one year
Distribution
Blood is available to be issued to needy patients as per the demand, 24X7