History
The earliest documentation of blood transfusion is found in the religious text
of many civilizations. The first documented demonstration of blood transfusion
was between two dogs by Richard Lower in 1665.
Landsteener discovered the ABO Blood Group system in 1901, which is one of the
most important landmark discoveries in the Transfusion Medicine. In the 1970s
voluntary donors were accepted as blood donors. These donors were later on found
to people having high-risk activities and the recipients were found to be
suffering from liver diseases. This lead to another discovery of Hepatitis B
transmitted by donated blood. Since then testing for the hepatitis B antigen was
implemented and this together with cessation of paid donors reduced the
incidence of post transfusion hepatitis. Further studies also made us to include
tests for Malaria, Syphilis, AIDS, and Hepatitis C to make the donated blood as
safe as possible to the recipient.
What is blood?
One can almost say that blood is that magic potion which gives life to another
person. Though we have made tremendous discoveries and inventions in Science we
are not yet able to make the magic potion called Blood. Human blood has no
substitute. Requirement of safe blood is increasing and regular voluntary blood
donations are vital for blood transfusion services.
Who can donate blood?
Eligibility criteria for blood donation
Donor should be between 18-55 years of age with a weight of 50 kg or above with
pulse rate, body temperature and blood pressure should be normal. Both men and
women can donate. There are only few conditions in which donors are permanently
excluded. The donor with history of epilepsy, psychotic disorders, abnormal
bleeding tendencies, severe asthma, cardiovascular disorders, malignancy are
permanently unfit for blood donation. Donors suffering from disease like
hepatitis, malaria, measles, mumps, and syphilis may donate blood after full
recovery with 3-6 months gap. Also people who have undergone surgery, blood
transfusion may safely donate blood after 6-12 mths for woman donors who are
pregnant or lactating blood is not taken as their iron reserves are already on
the lower side.
How much blood can be taken?
Our body has 5.5 ltr of blood of which only 350 ml - 450 ml of blood is taken
depending upon weight of donor. Majority of healthy adults can tolerate
withdrawal of one unit of blood. The withdrawn blood volume is restored within
24 hours and the hemoglobin and cell components are restored in 2 months.
Therefore it is safe to donate blood every three months.
What is done with the blood collected?
The blood collected in sterile, pyrogen free containers with anticoagulants like
CPDA or CPDA with SAGM. This prevents clotting and provides nutrition for the
cells. This blood is stored at 2-6 C or -20 C depending on the component
prepared. Donated blood undergoes various tests like blood grouping antibody
detection, testing of infections like hepatitis, AIDS, Malaria, syphilis and
before it reaches the recipient it undergoes compatibility testing with the
recipient blood.
Modern Blood Transfusion Practice:
Modern blood transfusion basically deals with the optimal use of one unit of
blood. One unit of whole blood is separated into components making it available
to different patients according to their requirement. Thus one unit of blood is
converted into packed cell volume, fresh frozen plasma, platelet concentrate,
cryoprecipitate and granulocytes concentrate.
Another important practice is apheresis. This is separation of only desired
component from the donor and return the remaining constituent back to donor.
This technique is also used for remaining pathological substance in patients.