Updated at: 27-04-2022 - By: Sienna Lewis

So, where does my blood donation go once I provide it? Some people may require extra blood supply, and giving blood is a way to aid those in need.

People can help others by participating in blood drives. To make up for the fact that blood is perishable and must be replenished by donations from people like you, we cannot generate it outside our bodies.

Donations of blood are critical to the health of patients in your community. Unfortunately, only 5% of persons who are eligible for blood donation actually do so. As a result, every time they donate blood, blood donors make a difference in the lives of patients and their families. Approximately half of the 7 million blood donors in the United States each year require a transfusion.

Blood transfusions are a routine element of the therapy regimen for many patients. Cancer patients must rely on blood donations for their treatment because they cannot make blood outside of the body. However, this is only a snapshot, dear friends. To have a deeper understanding of the subject, we recommend that you continue reading. With that said, let’s get this party started!

Where My Blood Donation Goes?

So, where does my blood donation go once I provide it? If you’ve ever wondered where to go to get blood for various medical conditions, look no further. Generally speaking, most people assume that those who have been injured in an accident require more blood transfusions. This isn’t always the case, of course. Among those who are most in need of blood donation are:

  • Seeking cancer therapy;
  • Medical treatment for orthopedic problems
  • An aortic valve replacement is required;
  • Treatment for blood illnesses that run in families.

Mind Matters: Donating blood | The Macleay Argus | Kempsey, NSW

Blood Donation For Cancer Patients

Low blood counts caused by radiation and chemotherapy, blood loss during surgery, and anemia as a result of cancer necessitate blood transfusions on a regular basis for these patients. Blood and bone marrow diseases like leukemia and lymphoma, both of which affect the ability of the body to create blood-forming cells, must be transfused because of this.

The Need For A Diverse Blood Supply

Having a variety of blood on hand is crucial. Most rare blood types are only shared by distant relatives who have common ancestry. On blood diversity websites, you can learn more about the importance of a diversified blood supply.

Why It’s Critical To Have CMV-Free Blood

Cytomegalovirus, or CMV, is the most frequent term for this virus family. 85% of Americans have been infected with CMV before the age of 40. As a result, CMV antibodies are present in the blood of the vast majority of Americans. People with weakened immune systems should avoid exposure to these antibodies. Because of this, CMV-negative transfusions are recommended on a daily basis.

In addition, CMV-infected immunocompromised adults and neonates may benefit from CMV-free blood transfusions. My blood donation was turned down, and you might know why.

Types Of Blood Donation

Donors of blood come in a variety of forms. Depending on the method of donation, a blood donor can help as many as three people. A single vial of whole blood can be used to separate different components of the blood, such as plasma, red blood cells, and platelets, using centrifugation.

Whole blood donation is the most common and most flexible method of blood donation. When it’s all gathered together, it’s usually broken up into pints and given to several deserving recipients. However, apheresis, which collects plasma from the blood, is required to separate plasma from other blood components in order to do so. Car accident victims and cancer patients can benefit from the blood clotting components in this supplement.

Platelets can also be obtained using apheresis. Platelets are taken from the blood of a blood donor and replaced with other blood cells and fluids. Patients with cancer are commonly given platelets because of the crucial role they play in treatment. For double red cell donation, apheresis is utilized to separate only red blood cells. Choosing this option will allow donors to donate two times as much blood. Everyone who has lost blood is eligible for the therapy.

Plasma Donation

Plasmapheresis is another name for this procedure. Centrifuges are used to extract plasma from blood during plasma donation. Platelets and red blood cells that were removed are reintroduced in the same way.

For those with life-threatening conditions like burns or cancer, blood plasma can be utilized to treat them. People with blood type AB are encouraged to give plasma because this is the most common kind. People in need of plasma can receive up to four units depending on the amount of the donation. Learn more about the risks and benefits of donating plasma.

What Happens to Donated Blood

Step One

It’s a Gift

  • Attending your blood donation appointment, you’re ready to go.
  • It’s time for a health history and a short physical.
  • In order to donate a full pint of blood, numerous little test tubes of blood are taken for testing as well..
  • All of your donated items are labeled with the same bar code, including your donor record.
  • Before being transported to a Red Cross facility for processing, your donation is placed in ice chests; the test tubes are then transported to the laboratory.

Step Two

Processing

  • Your donation information is entered into a computer database at our processing center.
  • Centrifuges separate red cells, platelets, and plasma from the rest of the blood that is donated.
  • Cryoprecipitate, a component of plasma that helps blood clot, can be made by processing plasma into cryoprecipitate.
  • Transfusion reactions can be minimized by removing your white blood cells from the red and platelet transfusions, which is known as leuko-reduction.
  • When transfusing a patient, doctors will use a standardized amount of each component.

Blood Donation Process Explained | Red Cross Blood Services

Step Three

Testing

  • Your test tubes will be delivered to a laboratory in tandem with Step 2.
  • To find out a person’s blood type and rule out any infectious diseases, more than a dozen tests are run. Take a closer look at the tests carried done.
  • Within 24 hours of receiving the test results, they are electronically transmitted to the processing facility.
  • Your donation will be thrown out if a positive test result is found (our test results are confidential and are only shared with the donor, except as may be required by law).

Step Four

Storage

  • After receiving test results, transfusion-ready units are marked and stored.
  • Red blood cells can be kept for up to 42 days in a refrigerator set to 6oC.
  • For up to five days, platelets are kept at room temperature in agitators.
  • There are freezers where plasma and cryo are kept for up to a year.

Step Five

Distribution

  • Every day, seven days a week, blood can be shipped to hospitals around the clock.
  • Hospitals normally have a supply of blood on hand, but they can order more at any time, such as in the event of a large-scale disaster.

Step Six

Transfusion

  • A sick or injured person is taken to a hospital or treatment facility for treatment.
  • It is up to the doctor to determine if and what sort of transfusion the patient needs.
  • Patients receive blood transfusions for a variety of reasons, such as severe injuries (such as those sustained in a car accident), operations, childbirth, anemia, blood diseases, and cancer treatment, to name just a few. See the Benefits of Blood Donation.
  • Patients with anemia or iron deficiency can benefit from the administration of red blood cells, which raise hemoglobin and iron levels in the blood, allowing them to breathe easier.
  • Platelet transfusions can help patients who are unable to produce enough of their own platelets owing to illness or chemotherapy.
  • Liver failure, severe infections, and severe burns are some of the conditions for which plasma transfusions are prescribed.

FAQs

Where does blood go after you donate it?

  1. After receiving test results, transfusion-ready units are marked and stored.
  2. Red blood cells can be kept for up to 42 days in a refrigerator set to 6oC.
  3. Platelets can be kept in agitators for up to five days at room temperature.
  4. There are freezers where plasma and cryo are kept for up to a year.

Do blood donations go to waste?

40% of America’s blood supply comes from the Red Cross… The Red Cross was able to use some of the surplus blood donated in the aftermath of 9/11 to treat other patients in the United States. However, a small amount of the blood still had to be destroyed.

What does Red Cross do with my blood?

About 40% of the nation’s blood supply is collected, processed, and distributed by the Red Cross. There are around 2,500 hospitals and transfusion facilities across the country that depend on the Red Cross to collect 13,000 blood donations per day.

What percentage of donated blood is actually used?

Accidents involving a patient who has lost a significant amount of blood often spring to mind when imagining where donated blood is used. You may be surprised to learn that only 2% of the blood donated by the public is used to treat trauma victims.

Why do they check your elbows when donating plasma?

A puncture in an artery can result in bleeding into the arm tissues surrounding the puncture site because arteries have higher blood pressure than veins. Your plasma will be collected in tubes that are lighter in color and faster in flow when you’ve had an artery punctured.

What do hospitals charge for a pint of blood?

According to Ben Bowman, CEO of General Blood, the blood broker involved in a legal dispute with Oklahoma City-based OBI, a pint of blood in the United States sells to hospitals for $180 to $300, depending on the market. Expired blood is commonly sold to research laboratories.

Tips For A Successful Blood Donation | Red Cross Blood Services

It’s A Wrap!

You can now see where my blood donation goes. The need for blood transfusions affects one out of every eight people in the hospital. The vast majority of today’s medical care relies on regular blood donations. Platelet and blood donations will be in more demand as cancer treatment develops.

Donors’ generosity allows many individuals of all ages and backgrounds to benefit from blood donations as a finite resource that cannot be replenished.

A sufficient supply of blood must be kept on hand at all medical facilities in order to meet the urgent requirements of cancer patients and other patients receiving life-saving treatments. When it comes to saving lives, blood donation is essential. Giving blood is a quick and painless process that takes around an hour to complete. Learn the importance of blood donation and what to eat before donating.