BLOOD

Blood:

The red liquid that circulates in the arteries and veins of vertebrate animals, carrying oxygen to and carbon dioxide from the tissues...

An internal bodily fluid, not necessarily red, that performs a similar function in invertebrates.

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.

The ABO Blood Group System

There are four major blood groups determined by the presence or absence of two antigens – A and B – on the surface of red blood cells:

    Group A – has only the A antigen on red cells (and B antibody in the plasma)

    Group B – has only the B antigen on red cells (and A antibody in the plasma)

    Group AB – has both A and B antigens on red cells (but neither A nor B antibody in the plasma)

    Group O – has neither A nor B antigens on red cells (but both A and B antibody are in the plasma)

There are very specific ways in which blood types must be matched for a safe transfusion: 

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 Rh-negative patients, and Rhpositive 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 Testing

The American Red Cross performs laboratory tests for multiple infectious disease markers on every unit of donated blood. Tests are upgraded or replaced with more sensitive technologies as these become available. These tests include:

    Chagas disease (T. cruzi)

    Hepatitis B virus (HBV)

    Hepatitis C virus (HCV 3.0)

    Human Immunodeficiency viruses, Types 1 and 2 (HIV 1,2)

    Human T-Lymphotropic virus (HTLV-I/II)

    Syphilis (Treponema pallidum)

    West Nile virus (WNV)

What Happens to Donated Blood?

Step 1:Blood Donat

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: Blood 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.

Step 3: Blood Testing

Steps 2 and 3 take place in parallel

The test tubes are received in one of five 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

Step 4: Blood Storage

When test results are received, units suitable for transfusion are labeled and stored

Red Cells are stored in refrigerators at 6ºC 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

Step 5: Blood Distribution

Blood is available to be shipped to hospitals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Benefits of blood donors

in addition to providing opportunities for life who received blood, blood donors also provide health benefits for the donor. Beside that by donating blood the body will react directly with make (produce) a replacement. Furthermore, there are five other health benefits that we can feel:

1. Maintaining heart health

High levels of iron in the blood will make a person more susceptible to heart disease. Excessive iron in the blood can cause oxidation of cholesterol. The oxidation products will accumulate in the artery wall and is equal to increase the chances of heart attacks and strokes. When we routinely donate blood then the amount of iron in the blood can be more stable. This means reducing the risk of heart disease.

2. Increasing the production of red blood cells

Blood donors will also help the body reduce the number of red blood cells in the blood. No need to panic with a reduction in red blood cells, because the spinal cord will immediately recharge the red blood cells that have been lost. The result, as our donors will get a new blood supply every time you donate blood. Therefore, blood donors to be a good step to stimulate the creation of new blood. 

3. Helps weight loss

Become a blood donor is one of the methods of dieting and calorie burning powerful. Because by giving about 450 ml of blood, will help the process of burning about 650 calories. That is the amount of calories that much to make us slim waist.

4. Getting psychological health

Donate things that are priceless to those in need will make us feel the psychological satisfaction. A study found that elderly people who become regular blood donors will feel the stay energized and fit.

5. Detect serious diseases

Every time we wanted to donate blood, our blood is a standard procedure will be examined from various diseases such as HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, syphilis, and malaria. For those who received blood donors, this is important information to anticipate disease transmission through blood transfusion. As for us, this is the “warning signs” that good so we are more concerned about our own health conditions.

Immense benefits to our health blood donors. Additional information beyond the age limit for donating blood is the age of 18 years to 60 years. So lets share to other people..

Blood Components

n 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 body’s 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, anti- hemophilic factor, and other clotting factors, and 1% mineral salts, sugars, fats, hormones and vitamins.

White Blood Cells & Granulocytes

White Blood Cells

White blood cells (leukocytes) are one of the body’s defenses against disease. Some white cells travel throughout the body and destroy bacteria, some produce antibodies against bacteria and viruses, and others help fight malignant diseases. One’s own “leukocytes” help maintain the body’s immune function, but when present in donated blood, they serve no purpose. In fact, leukocytes may carry viruses that cause immune suppression and release toxic substances in the recipient. Leukocytes can cause a reaction when transfused, and are often removed from the transfusable blood components, a process called leuko-reduction. The majority of white blood cells are produced in the bone marrow, where they outnumber red blood cells by 2 to 1. However, in the blood stream, there are about 600 red blood cells for every white blood cell. There are several different types of white blood cells.

Granulocytes 

Granulocytes are one type of several types of white blood cells that are in fact used in more specialized transfusion therapy. Granulocytes and monocytes protect against infection by surrounding and destroying invading bacteria and viruses, and lymphocytes aid in the immune defense system. Granulocytes are prepared by an automated process called apheresis, and must be transfused within 24 hours after collection. They are used for infections that are unresponsive to antibiotic therapy.