Donor Testing before Blood Donation
Everyone who has donated blood once in their lifetime is aware about the procedure for blood donation. But there are many other facts related to it, which one may be unaware of. It is important to have awareness about facts associated with as a noble an act as donation of blood.
Before donating the blood, the blood is tested to check whether it is worth considering for transfusions and whether it is safe enough. Also, the blood type needs to be determined for blood transfusion. The blood types are universally categorized into O, A, B and AB and the donor's Rh type is checked for antibodies. It should be known that there are different types of donations like blood donation and plasma donation. The type O is called the universal donor, meaning it can donate blood to every other group, but only subject to red cell transfusions. The plasma transfusions include type AB as the universal donor type.
The blood testing before transfusions is screened for STDs and sometimes the results are false positive. The use of such blood is discouraged and it is generally discarded. However, there are some exceptions such as autologous donations, which is donation for a scheduled surgery. Though there are many tests for blood donation, the core tests which are recommended by WHO are €" Serologic tests for Syphilis, Hepatitis B surface antigen, antibody to HIV and hepatitis C. It is reported that many countries do not do these tests at all.
Sometimes, these tests are done even for checking the infections caused due to blood transfusion. Infections like West Nile virus can take place while transmission of blood and additional tests has to be done for that. Some tests cover the limitations of other tests and are done in addition like p24 antigen and HIV nucleic acid test. The other infection is cytomegalovirus, which is a special case in donor testing where donors test positive. Though the virus is not very dangerous, it can harms infants and those with weak immune system.
This donor testing could also have complications like women, teenagers and first-time donors can be affected by reaction. Though the risks are mostly minor, they still lurk around the donors. The worst problem encountered is fainting, while hypovolemic reactions can occur due to rapid change in blood pressure. The US blood banks are required to report deaths that may possibly associate with donation of blood. More information can be obtained about blood donation with the help of top medical news and videos online.
Before donating the blood, the blood is tested to check whether it is worth considering for transfusions and whether it is safe enough. Also, the blood type needs to be determined for blood transfusion. The blood types are universally categorized into O, A, B and AB and the donor's Rh type is checked for antibodies. It should be known that there are different types of donations like blood donation and plasma donation. The type O is called the universal donor, meaning it can donate blood to every other group, but only subject to red cell transfusions. The plasma transfusions include type AB as the universal donor type.
The blood testing before transfusions is screened for STDs and sometimes the results are false positive. The use of such blood is discouraged and it is generally discarded. However, there are some exceptions such as autologous donations, which is donation for a scheduled surgery. Though there are many tests for blood donation, the core tests which are recommended by WHO are €" Serologic tests for Syphilis, Hepatitis B surface antigen, antibody to HIV and hepatitis C. It is reported that many countries do not do these tests at all.
Sometimes, these tests are done even for checking the infections caused due to blood transfusion. Infections like West Nile virus can take place while transmission of blood and additional tests has to be done for that. Some tests cover the limitations of other tests and are done in addition like p24 antigen and HIV nucleic acid test. The other infection is cytomegalovirus, which is a special case in donor testing where donors test positive. Though the virus is not very dangerous, it can harms infants and those with weak immune system.
This donor testing could also have complications like women, teenagers and first-time donors can be affected by reaction. Though the risks are mostly minor, they still lurk around the donors. The worst problem encountered is fainting, while hypovolemic reactions can occur due to rapid change in blood pressure. The US blood banks are required to report deaths that may possibly associate with donation of blood. More information can be obtained about blood donation with the help of top medical news and videos online.
