Blood Donation Requirements

The Dos And Don’ts Of Blood Donation Requirements

While the procedure of blood donation is simple enough, certain common sense blood donation requirements do exist to streamline the process of blood collection, testing and storage. Medical facilities can hardly exist without an efficient system of blood banks that rescue people from the jaws of death like after accidents when excessive bleeding may occur. Surgeries too inevitably cause a loss of blood that needs to be replenished. Let us know a little more about the wonder life giving fluid. A, B, AB and O represent the four major blood types. RBCs, WBCs, plasma and platelets get manufactured in the little factory called the bone marrow. 

WBCs fight infection, platelets assist blood clotting and plasma, mostly water, contains nutrients while RBCs carry oxygen. The four constituents are separated before transfusion.

It is obvious that the donor should be in good general health and feeling well at the time of blood donation. Countries differ in the blood donation requirements but most states in the USA require the donor to be at least 17 years old and weighing a minimum of 110 pounds. Tests may be carried out to ensure the good health of the donor though lies may be told to avoid deferral for the sake of payment for instance. Not all blood donations are paid for though, often done as an act of charity.  We realize though that since you can donate every 56 days, it could become a source of income for the poverty stricken or to support a substance abuse habit amongst the youth.

Low hemoglobin/hematocrit count could be a basis of deferring blood donations that should be above the minimum value prescribed that stands at 12.5 g/dL. Other conditions like low or high blood pressure similarly could be a cause of deferral. Symptoms of illness and even colds and flu may cause deferral. Travel in certain countries, medications and medical conditions could decide either temporary or permanent deferrals. 

Other general blood donation requirements would be to avoid smoking and drinking prior to the blood donation. You should be alcohol free 48 hours before and you could resume smoking three hours after the event.  Eat a sumptuous meal three hours before the donation.  You may be offered refreshments after the donation that you should accept and eat well later.

World Blood Donors Day being recognized globally on 14^th June, consider it a profound privilege to donate blood that could potentially save three lives through whole blood, platelets and plasma that are separately transfused depending upon the recipient’s medical condition. We have dwelt only on the advantages of donation to the recipient as part of blood donation requirements.  Does the act of blood donation confer any advantages upon the donor? Yes, it does. By giving away a portion of your blood, the toxic chemicals present like mercury and pesticides would be thus reduced! Men have the additional advantage of reducing the risks of heart disease. Both the sexes generate new red blood cells through blood donation.

Nothing can replace the red substance in spite of all the wonders of creation. RBCs can be stored normally for 42 days only. Blood fights infection, heals wounds. Blood is the greatest carrier of oxygen to every body part and carbon dioxide for removal from lungs, liver and kidneys. To conclude, compatibility issues arise as part of blood donation requirements. The universal donor is O that can be transfused to anybody. O- can be received by O- alone. O- and O+ may be received by O+ while O- and A+ may be received by A- besides a few other compatibilities. Regarding blood plasma, the universal donor is AB that anybody can receive. A or AB is acceptable to A and B or AB are acceptable to B. Donor plasma must be O, A, B or AB to be received by O.