Alexandru West 
Whenever you donate blood, you are doing something that is vital to a person who is sick. The blood you donate is used for transfusions and biopharmaceutical medications.
Red cells
Almost everyone needs red cells from blood donation, because they help carry oxygen to the body’s tissues. They are also essential for trauma victims and surgery patients. They are used in 70% of all transfusions. It takes several weeks for the body to replace its lost red cells.
Blood donation is an easy way to help the people in your community. It takes less than an hour to give a pint of blood. Blood is collected through a single-use, sterile needle. It is then stored until the patient needs it.
Blood is made up of plasma, red cells, and platelets. Plasma is the liquid portion of blood that contains important proteins, clotting factors, and nutrients. Platelets are also important in blood clotting.
Plasma
Despite the fact that Sweden has a relatively good supply of plasma, there are some risks associated with the current situation. These include price competition mainly from the United States. In addition, the emergence of genetically engineered plasma alternatives poses a new challenge to the Swedish plasma supply.
The Swedish Medical Research Council has been coordinating plasma research activities. As part of this collaboration, the Swedish Government appointed a working group to investigate the current plasma supply. The group analyzed factors affecting the supply and formulated recommendations for the government.
One major recommendation is to ensure the quality of donation. This involves the selection of reliable donors. In addition, the use of blood and plasma derivatives should be in line with scientifically acceptable standards.
Platelets
Hundreds of thousands of Americans depend on platelets from blood donation to keep them healthy. Platelets are tiny cells that help clot blood, seal wounds and stop bleeding. They’re a vital part of fighting cancer, traumatic injuries and chronic disease.
To donate platelets, you must be in good health, 17 years old or older, and meet whole blood donation requirements. You’ll need to wait at least two days before donating.
Platelets are tiny, bone marrow cells that form a clot to stop bleeding. They help heal wounds and stop bleeding from surgeries. They’re also used to treat patients with bleeding disorders. They’re also vital in treating burns.
Apheresis
Often used during the medical treatment of cancer patients, apheresis is a technique for separating blood into different components. These components are then given to patients who need them. The process is usually done using a special machine that is called an apheresis machine.
Blood has a number of different components including red blood cells, plasma, and platelets. The red blood cells carry oxygen to the different parts of the body, while the platelets help control bleeding. Platelets are also important for people who have experienced a severe burn. They help temporarily repair a blood vessel tear.
In apheresis, a small percentage of platelets are collected while the rest of the blood is returned to the donor. The donor’s blood is processed to remove the plasma, red blood cells, and other constituents.
Screening for HIV and viral hepatitis
Detecting HIV and viral hepatitis before blood donation changed the way people thought about the safety of the blood supply. It also shifted the blood banking field from serology to the diagnosis of infectious disease.
A blood bank will check a potential donor’s history of donation to see if he or she has had blood transfusions in the past six months. A blood bank will also ask the potential donor questions to see if they have a history of hepatitis, HIV, or other infectious diseases. A trained health professional will then interview each donor. A pamphlet about blood transmission will be given to the potential donor.
The American Association of Blood Banks developed standards for blood donors in 1982. The standards required the donor to be in good health and not have had blood transfusions within six months of the donation. It also required that the skin at the venipuncture site be lesion free.
Sickle cell disease
Approximately one in 365 African-Americans is born with sickle cell trait. This trait can be passed on to others, and blood donations from African-Americans can provide an essential match for sickle cell patients. The American Red Cross has launched a national initiative to increase blood donations from Black individuals.
The Red Cross screens all blood donations for sickle cell trait. In addition to plasma donations, the American Red Cross also screens platelet donations for this trait.
Blood transfusions are important for sickle cell patients because they deliver oxygen to the body and relieve pain. They can also prevent strokes and other complications. Depending on the severity of sickle cell disease, patients may need multiple blood transfusions to relieve symptoms and provide comfort.
