Importance of Blood Donation in Life

‘’Importance of Blood Donation’’

History
The earliest documentation of blood transfusion is found in the religious text of several civilizations. The major documented demonstration of blood transfusion was between two dogs by Richard Lower in 1665.   ‘’Importance of Blood Donation’’

Landsteener discovered the ABO Blood Group system in 1901, which is one of the greatest important landmark discoveries in the Transfusion Medicine. In the 1970s voluntary donors were received as blood donors. These donors were later on found to people having high-risk activities and the recipients were found to be misery from liver diseases. This lead to extra discovery of Hepatitis B transmitted by donated blood. Since then testing for the hepatitis B antigen was implemented and this together by cessation of paid donors reduced the incidence of post transfusion hepatitis. Further studies also made us to involve 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 somebody. Though we have made tremendous discoveries and inventions in Science we are not yet proficient to make the magic potion called Blood. Mortal blood has no substitute. Requirement of safe blood is increasing and regular voluntary blood donations are vital for blood transfusion facilities.




Who can donate blood?
Eligibility criteria for blood donation                     ‘’Importance of Blood Donation’’

 Donor should be among 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 canister donate. There are only insufficient 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 weak for blood donation. Donors distress from disease like hepatitis, malaria, measles, mumps, and syphilis might donate blood after full recovery with 3-6 months gap. Also people who have undergone surgery, blood transfusion might safely donate blood after 6-12 mths for woman donors who are pregnant or lactating blood is not taken as their iron reserves are previously on the lower side.

‘’Importance of Blood Donation’’

How much blood can be taken?                                 ‘’Importance of Blood Donation’’

 Our body has 5.5 ltr of blood of which only 350 ml - 450 ml of blood is engaged depending upon weight of donor. Majority of fit adults can tolerate withdrawal of one unit of blood. The withdrawn blood volume is restored in 24 hours and the hemoglobin and cell components are restored in 2 months. Therefore it is safe to donate blood each three months.

What is done with the blood collected?                   ‘’Importance of Blood Donation’’

 The blood assembled in sterile, pyrogen free containers with anticoagulants like CPDA or CPDA with SAGM. This prevents clotting and provides nutrition aimed at the cells. This blood is collected at 2-6 C or -20 C depending on the component prepared. Donated blood undergoes many tests like blood grouping antibody detection, testing of infections like hepatitis, AIDS, Malaria, syphilis and earlier it reaches the recipient it undergoes compatibility testing with the recipient blood.

Modern Blood Transfusion Practice:
Modern blood transfusion basically deals with the optimal usage of one unit of blood. One unit of entire blood is separated into components making it available to different patients according to their requirement. Thus one unit of blood is transformed into packed cell volume, fresh frozen plasma, platelet concentrate, cryoprecipitate and granulocytes concentrate.                                  ‘’Importance of Blood Donation’’

Another significant practice is apheresis. This is separation of only wanted component from the donor and return the remaining constituent back to donor. This technique is too used for remaining pathological substance in patients.

Importance of Blood Donation in Life

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