30 June 2016

Lecture #11: THE BLOOD DONORS




In order to protect the donor as well as the recipient, each blood donor must be screened prior to each blood donation by medical history and limited physical examination on the day of donation. This is to insure that no harm will come to the donor by giving blood and that the transfused unit will not in any way harm the recipient. Whenever a decision is made regarding acceptance or rejection of a blood donor, there two goals should be kept in mind, i.e, safety of donor and safety of patient.


Registration

The following information must be recorded initially or updated on a Donor Record (either single or multiple donation cards) which is kept on the file in the Blood Bank.

1.      Date
2.      Name: Last, First and Middle Initial
3.      Address: Residence and/or Business
4.      Telephone: Residence and/or Business
5.      Sex


The following information is not required but may be useful

1.      Additional identification such as Social Security or Driver’s License number.

2.      Time of last meal. Fasting is not recommended and if donor has not eaten within past 4–6 hours, he may be sent to the refreshment area for a slight snack.

3.      Name of intended recipient or donor group.

a.       Full name of patient and hospital or donor group is essential to assure proper credit.

b.      A record of rejected donors may be useful to the patient or to others concerned with donor recruitment.

4.      Hazardous occupation (or hobby)

If the job duties (or hobbies) include possible hazard to self or responsibility for the safety of others, the consequence of temporary incapacity due to fainting or other delayed reaction should be considered. Donors should be accepted only if adequate time lapses before returning to such activities.

            Examples:       Operators of cranes, heavy equipment, power machinery, buses,
                                    taxi cabs or trains (12 hours). Workers on jobs requiring climbing
                                    Ladders and scaffolding (12 hours), scuba or sky divers (12 hours),
                                    Flight crews (72 hours)


Basic qualification

1.     Age

Between 21st and 66th birthday and between 17th and 21st birthday depending on local law (age of minority) and consent of a guardian


2.     Body weight

110 lbs. or more for 450 (+/– 45) ml of blood collected in 63 ml of CPD anticoagulant plus up to 30 ml for additional tubes.


3.     Temperature

Less than 37.5oC (99.5oF)


4.     Pulse

Between 50 – 100 beats per minute (regular)


5.     Blood pressure

Systolic between 90 – 180 mmHg
Diastolic between 50 – 100 mmHg


6.     Minimum Hemoglobin

13.5 g / dl (male)
12.5 g / dl (female)

            Minimum hematocrit

                        41% (male)
                        38% (female)

            Specific gravity

                        More than 1.055 (male)
                        More than 1.053 (female)


7.     Skin lesion

The skin at the site of venipuncture shall be free from lesions including stigmata of drug injection. Examine both arms.

Mild skin disorders such as acne, psoriasis, rash of poison ivy are not cause for deferment unless in antecubital area. Donors with boils or other severe skin infections should be deferred.


8.     General appearance

If the donor looks ill or appears to be in the influence of drugs or alcohol or is excessively nervous, it is best to defer temporarily.


Deferment

1.     Permanent

a.       History of viral hepatitis
b.      History of jaundice of unknown cause
c.       The only donor implicated in post–transfusion hepatitis
d.      Malignant tumor
e.       Leukemia
f.        Convulsion
g.       After infancy
h.      Fainting spells
i.         Abnormal bleeding tendency
j.         Positive HBsAg test
k.       Serious cardiopulmonary disease


2.     Temporary

a.       Conditions requiring rest or medication (cold, flu)
b.      Diabetes
c.       Tuberculosis
d.      Syphilis
e.       Infections and diseases involving heart, lungs, kidneys, stomach or liver


3.     For 3 years

After prior residence in areas endemic for malaria or after cessation of anti– malaria prophylaxis or therapy provided the donors have been asymptomatic.


4.     For 1 year

a.       Severe illness
b.      Therapeutic rabies vaccines


5.     For 6 months

a.       Close contact with viral hepatitis
b.      Skin allgrafts, ear piercing, tattoo
c.       Injection of blood or components
d.      One of the donors implicated in post transfusion hepatitis
e.       Major surgery
f.        Travel to areas endemic for malaria without symptoms or suppressive medication
g.       Inmates of penal colony or mental institution until six months after release


6.     For 2 months

a.       German measles (rubella) vaccines
b.      Previous blood donation (interval of blood donation)


7.     For 6 weeks

a.       After termination of pregnancy


8.     For 2 weeks

a.       Smallpox
b.      Measle
c.       Mumps
d.      Yellow fever vaccines
e.       Oral polio vaccines


9.     For 72 hours

a.       Dental or minor surgery
b.      Hyposensitization injection for allergy 
c.       Symptomatic bronchial asthma


10.   For 48 hours

a.       Plasmapheresis
b.      Aspirin consumption by donor who is the only source of platelet for a patient.


Techniques of blood collection


Before a technologist start phlebotomy, he must be sure that all the things needed are ready, including those that a donor may need if some reaction occurs

1.      Technologist must wash hands thoroughly using surgical soaps.

2.      Materials used should be sterile. Disposable materials are preferred whenever possible.

3.      The donor blood bag, sample tube and donor record should be properly identified and labeled before drawing blood.

4.      Select the venipuncture site. The venipuncture site should be free of skin lesions of an infectious nature. Arms should be inspected for needle marks, a sign of drug addiction.

5.      Thoroughly clean the proposed site of venipuncture with a disinfectant having a rapid bactericidal action. Start from the center to the outer portion. Do not go back to the area which has already been cleaned.

a.       Scrub vigorously with surgical soap for at least 30 seconds with gauze or 60 seconds with cotton balls to clean away fat, oils, dirt, etc.

b.      To remove soap, apply 10% acetone in 70% alcohol and allow to dry.

c.       Apply tincture of iodine (3% in 70% alcohol). Allow to dry.

d.      Remove iodine with 10% acetone in 70% alcohol. Allow to dry. Iodophor compounds may also be used instead of iodine. Iodophor compounds are preferred because they leave less odor and stain than does tincture of iodine. They also do not cause skin reactions and removal of iodine by additional washing is not required.

e.       Cover site with dry sterile gauze unless ready to do venipuncture.

6.      Inspect bag for any defects. Solution must be clear.

7.      Position bag carefully

a.       If balance system is used, be sure counter–balance is adjusted for the amount to be drawn. Unless metal clips and hand sealer are used, make a very loose overhand knot in tubing. Hang the bag and route tubing through the pinch clamp.

b.      If balance system is not used, position bag low enough to allow gravity collection. It may be hung upside down so blood flow through the anticoagulant.

c.       If using a vacuum–assist device, certain modifications are necessary and the manufacturer’s instruction should be followed.

8.      Reapply tourniquet

9.      Uncover sterile needle and do venipuncture immediately. If desired, tape the tubing to hold needle in place and cover site with sterile gauze.

10.  Release hemostat or the temporary closure to allow blood to flow into the bag.

11.  Observe the donor for any reaction.

12.  Instruct the donor to open and close his hand during donation.

13.  Mix blood and anticoagulant every 30 seconds. Donation should be complete within 7 minutes.

14.  Seal the tubing 4 to 5 inches from the needle by making a white knot using a metal clip.

15.  Grasp tubing on the donor side of the seal and press to remove blood for a distance of no more than an inch. Clamp with hemostat.

16.  Cut tubing between seal and hemostat. To fill processing tubes for laboratory tests, other than compatibility testing, remove stopper from tubes, release hemostat and allow blood to flow directly from vein.

17.  Remove tourniquet, remove needle. Apply sterilize gauze at the site and have the donor apply firm pressure while holding arm straight above the head.

18.  Discard needle. Starting at seal, strip donor tubing as completely as possible into the bag. It is important to work quickly before initiation of coagulation.

19.  Invert bag several times to mix thoroughly.

20.  Tubing must be left attached to the bag and sealed into sterile segment.

21.  Recheck identification before storing blood.


After care of donor

1.      Bandage phlebotomy site after bleeding stops.

2.      Allow the donor to remain reclining for 10 minutes. Then have him seated for 10 –20 minutes.

3.      Instruct him as to possible post phlebotomy symptoms.

4.      Thank him and encourage him to donate again.


Some reactions which may occur

1.      Weakness or dizziness
2.      Sweating, pale or clammy skin
3.      Fainting
4.      Vomiting
5.      Severe reactions such as convulsion and cardiac arrest


Instructions to blood donor before they are allowed to go home

1.      Do not smoke for half an hour.

2.      Eat and drink something before leaving the donor room.

3.      Drink more liquids than usual for the next day.

4.      Avoid alcoholic drink until after meal.

5.      Lie down if feeling faint or dizzy.

6.      Resume normal activities in half an hour, if no reaction are felt; but should not perform

7.      Remove bandage after one day.


Processing requirement for donor blood

1.      ABO group

2.      Rh type

3.      Detection of antibodies

4.      Test for syphilis

5.      Test for HBsAg

6.      Test for AIDS (HIV antigen)

7.      Test for hemolysis

8.      A donor’s previous record of ABO grouping and Rh type shall not serve for identification of units of blood subsequently given by the same donor; new determinations shall be made for each collection.

9.      Processed samples shall be stored at 1–6oC for at least 7 days after transfusion.


Code of ethics for blood donation and transfusion

The code of ethics for blood donation and transfusion of the International Society of Blood Transfusion was adapted by the General Assembly in Montreal, Canada in August 1980 and was approved by International Group of Red Cross Blood Transfusion Experts in Vienna in May 1981 as well as by the International Federation of Blood Donor Organization (FIODS) in Madrid in June 1981.
                                                                                           
This was also adopted by the International Conference of the Red Cross in Manila in November 1981.


A.     The Donor

1.      Blood donation shall, in all circumstances, be voluntary: no pressure of any king must be brought to bear upon the donor.

2.      The donor should be advised of the risks connected with the procedure; the donor’s health and safety must be constantly concern.

3.      Financial profit must never be a motive either for the donor or for those responsible for collecting the donation. Voluntary non–remunerated donors should always be encouraged.

4.      Anonymity between donor and recipient must be respected except in special cases.

5.      Blood donation must not entail discrimination of any kind, either of race, nationality or religion.

6.      Blood must be collected under the responsibility of a physician.

7.      The frequency of donations and the total volume of the blood collected according to sex and weight of the individual as well as the upper and lower age limits for blood donation should be defined by regulations.

8.      Suitable testing of each donor and blood donation must be performed in an attempt to detect any abnormalities

a.       That would make the donation dangerous for the donor.
b.      That would be likely to be harmful to the recipient.

9.      Donation by plasmapheresis should be the subject of special regulations that would specify

a.       The nature of additional tests to be carried out on the donor.
b.      The maximum volume of plasma to be taken during one session.
c.       The maximum volume of plasma to be taken in one year.
d.      The minimum time interval between two consecutive sessions.

10.  Donation of leukocytes or platelets by cytopheresis should be the subject of special regulations that specify:

a.       The information to be given to the donor about any drugs injected and about the risk connected to the procedure
b.      The nature of any individual tests to be carried out on a donor.
c.       The number of sessions within a given frame.

11.  Deliberate immunization of donors by any foreign antigen with the aim of obtaining products with a specific diagnostic or therapeutic activity should be the subject of special regulations that would specify:

a.       The information to be given to the donor about the substance injected and the risk involved.

b.      The nature of any additional tests which have to be carried out on the donor.

·         The purpose of the special regulation in items 9,10 and 11 is to safe guard the donor. After being told about the nature of the operation and the risk involved, a statement of informed consent mu be signed by the donor. For donors immunized against red cell antigens, a special card should indicate the antibodies and specific details as to the appropriate blood to be used in case the donors need to be transfused.

12.   The donor must be protected by adequate insurance against the risk inherent in the donation of blood, plasma or cells as well as the risk of immunization.


B.     The Recipient

13.  The objective of transfusion is to ensure the recipient the most efficient therapy compatible with maximum safety.

14.  Before any transfusion of blood or blood products, a written request signed by a physician or issued under his responsibility must be made, which specified the identity of the recipient and the nature and quantity of substances to be administered.

15.  Except for the emergency use of type O blood or red blood cells, every red cell transfusion necessitates preliminary blood grouping tests on the recipients and compatibility tests between the donor and recipient.

16.  Before administration, one must verify that blood and blood products are correctly identified and the expiry date has not been passed, the recipient’s identity must be verified.

17.  The actual transmission must be given under the responsibility of physician.

18.  In case a reaction during or after the injection of blood or blood products, appropriate investigations may be required to ascertain the origin of the reaction and to prevent its recurrence. A reaction may require the interruption of the transfusion.

19.  Blood and blood products must not be given unless there is a genuine therapeutic need. There must be no financial motivation on the part of either the prescriber or the establishment where the patient is treated.

20.  Whatever their financial resources, all patients must be able to benefit from administration of human blood or blood products

21.  As far as possible, the patient should receive only that particular component (cells, plasma, or plasma derivatives) that is needed. To transfuse whole blood into a patient who requires only part of it, may deprive other patient of necessary components and may carry some additional risks to the recipient.

22.  Owing to the human origin of blood and to the limited quantities available, it is important to safeguard the interest of both recipients and donor by avoiding abuse or waste.

23.  The optimal use of blood and blood products requires regular contact between the physician who prescribe and those who work in blood transfusion centers.


C.      The Controls

24.  Appropriate controls should be required by the Health Authorities to verify that the blood transfusion practices meet internationally accepted standards and that the guidelines or regulations issued in accordance with this code are effectively respected.

25.  The following should be regularly checked:

a.       The proficiency of the staff
b.      The adequacy of the equipment and premises

c.       The quality of methods and reagents, source materials and finished products







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