DOCSLIB.ORG

Transfusion Options: a Guide for the Jehovah's Witness Community

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Transfusion Options: a Guide for the Jehovah's Witness Community ew York Blood Center (NYBC) is one of the largest non- permitted procedures and blood- blood banking terminology profit, community-based blood centers in the United derived products provided by nybc NStates. Serving more than 20 million people in New York Albumin » The major fraction derived from plasma, used to treat City, Long Island, Hudson Valley, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and PROCEDURES/ DESCRIPTIONS USE low albumin levels secondary to disease, shock, and severe burns. beyond, we provide blood-derived products and related services PRODUCTS to more than 250 hospitals. Many of these services and products Allogeneic (al-low-gen-AY-ick) Blood » Blood from someone else. can be of use to Jehovah’s Witnesses. Perioperative Blood Autologous (your own) blood To minimize Recovery (also called lost during surgery is collect- blood loss during Antibodies » Proteins in the body produced in response to foreign Cell Salvage) ed, washed, and returned to surgery substances and needed to fight infections. The services/treatments described in this brochure are compat- you In a continuous circuit using a device set-up spe- ible with the latest policy change in the June 15, 2000 issue of Autologous (aw-TOL-o-gus) Blood » Your own blood. Watchtower magazine in which procedures using your own blood cific for this purpose. and maintaining continuous circulation with your body are al- Therapeutic Specific components of To treat diseases Blood Donation » The process of giving blood. The volume of a lowed, as well as fractions of any of the “primary” components Apheresis your blood are removed involving specific typical whole blood donation is approximately one pint (500 mL). by circulating your blood components of Specific components can also be donated. (“primary components” being defined as red cells, white cells, through a device specific for the blood platelets, and plasma). As said in the Watchtower issue, “when it this purpose. The most com- mon procedure performed Blood Type (Blood Group) » An inherited characteristic based on comes to fractions of any of the primary components, each Chris- is plasma exchange, where the presence or absence of A and B substances on the surface of tian, after careful and prayerful meditation, must conscientiously your plasma is removed red blood cells. The four major blood types are A, B, AB, and O. decide for himself”. and usually replaced with Transfused blood must be blood type compatible. a plasma protein fraction such as 5% albumin (which We encourage you to read this brochure carefully to understand is permitted). Other possible Clotting Factors » Proteins isolated from plasma that are your options. You should discuss with your family/friends which procedures are WBC or necessary for control of bleeding. platelet depletions. treatments you would like to receive, in the event that you are Component » Whole blood is separated into components so unconscious and the people you trust need to make decisions for Blood Stem Cell Blood stem cells are To treat life- patients can be transfused only with what they need. The major Collection removed from your circula- threatening you. This is important because such treatment could save your tion by a device specific for illnesses that components are red blood cells, plasma, and platelets. life in the event of life-threatening illness, the need for surgery, this purpose. Blood stem can be treated or significant bleeding. cells are the most common by bone marrow Crossmatch » A laboratory test performed to ensure compatibility stem cell used in a bone transplantation between a patient’s blood and a donor’s blood. marrow transplantation procedure. Cryoprecipitate » A fraction derived from plasma, primarily used Plasma-Protein Products derived from To treat various for its fibrinogen content. Fibrinogen is necessary for control of Fractions plasma where a specific medical problems bleeding. (such as albumin, immu- component of plasma was such as protein noglobulins, cryoprecipi- isolated for treatment pur- loss or lack of Directed Donation » A blood donation given for a specific patient's tate, clotting factors) poses. production, infec- tion, and bleeding use, usually by a patient's family member or friend. Erythropoietin (EPO) » A horomone that stimulates production of red blood cells. perioperative blood recovery (pbr) (also referred to as perioperative autologous Hematocrit (he-MA-tow-crit) » The percentage of whole blood that transfusion or pat) is composed of red blood cells. Perioperative Blood Recovery (PBR) is a technique used to Hemoglobin » The molecule in red blood cells that contains iron, collect autologous blood shed during surgery for reinfusion into carries oxygen, and gives blood its red color. the patient, with the goal of minimizing the need for allogeneic Immunoglobulins » A fraction derived from plasma, containing blood transfusion. PBR collects blood from the surgical field, antibodies used to treat infections and disorders of the immune washes and centrifuges the blood to remove debris and system. concentrate the blood (to a Hct of 50-60%), then the red blood cells are infused to the patient. In general, the blood needs Rh » An inherited substance on the surface of red blood cells (like to be transfused within six hours from the start of collection. the A and B substances) present in approximately 85% of the U.S. population. Those who have it are designated Rh-positive and those PBR collection can continue post-operatively as needed. Each who do not are Rh-negative. processing procedure requires 300-500 mL of collected blood, is completed in 5-10 minutes, or can be performed in a continuous Transfusion » Replacing blood or blood components that are manner for Jehovah’s Witness patients. insufficient in the transfusion recipient’s own circulation. ew York Blood Center (NYBC) is one of the largest non- permitted procedures and blood- blood banking terminology profit, community-based blood centers in the United derived products provided by nybc NStates. Serving more than 20 million people in New York Albumin » The major fraction derived from plasma, used to treat City, Long Island, Hudson Valley, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and PROCEDURES/ DESCRIPTIONS USE low albumin levels secondary to disease, shock, and severe burns. beyond, we provide blood-derived products and related services PRODUCTS to more than 250 hospitals. Many of these services and products Allogeneic (al-low-gen-AY-ick) Blood » Blood from someone else. can be of use to Jehovah’s Witnesses. Perioperative Blood Autologous (your own) blood To minimize Recovery (also called lost during surgery is collect- blood loss during Antibodies » Proteins in the body produced in response to foreign Cell Salvage) ed, washed, and returned to surgery substances and needed to fight infections. The services/treatments described in this brochure are compat- you In a continuous circuit using a device set-up spe- ible with the latest policy change in the June 15, 2000 issue of Autologous (aw-TOL-o-gus) Blood » Your own blood. Watchtower magazine in which procedures using your own blood cific for this purpose. and maintaining continuous circulation with your body are al- Therapeutic Specific components of To treat diseases Blood Donation » The process of giving blood. The volume of a lowed, as well as fractions of any of the “primary” components Apheresis your blood are removed involving specific typical whole blood donation is approximately one pint (500 mL). by circulating your blood components of Specific components can also be donated. (“primary components” being defined as red cells, white cells, through a device specific for the blood platelets, and plasma). As said in the Watchtower issue, “when it this purpose. The most com- mon procedure performed Blood Type (Blood Group) » An inherited characteristic based on comes to fractions of any of the primary components, each Chris- is plasma exchange, where the presence or absence of A and B substances on the surface of tian, after careful and prayerful meditation, must conscientiously your plasma is removed red blood cells. The four major blood types are A, B, AB, and O. decide for himself”. and usually replaced with Transfused blood must be blood type compatible. a plasma protein fraction such as 5% albumin (which We encourage you to read this brochure carefully to understand is permitted). Other possible Clotting Factors » Proteins isolated from plasma that are your options. You should discuss with your family/friends which procedures are WBC or necessary for control of bleeding. platelet depletions. treatments you would like to receive, in the event that you are Component » Whole blood is separated into components so unconscious and the people you trust need to make decisions for Blood Stem Cell Blood stem cells are To treat life- patients can be transfused only with what they need. The major Collection removed from your circula- threatening you. This is important because such treatment could save your tion by a device specific for illnesses that components are red blood cells, plasma, and platelets. life in the event of life-threatening illness, the need for surgery, this purpose. Blood stem can be treated or significant bleeding. cells are the most common by bone marrow Crossmatch » A laboratory test performed to ensure compatibility stem cell used in a bone transplantation between a patient’s blood and a donor’s blood. marrow transplantation procedure. Cryoprecipitate » A fraction derived from plasma, primarily used Plasma-Protein Products derived from To treat various for its fibrinogen content. Fibrinogen is necessary for control of Fractions plasma where a specific medical problems bleeding. (such as albumin, immu- component of plasma was such as protein noglobulins, cryoprecipi- isolated for treatment pur- loss or lack of Directed Donation » A blood donation given for a specific patient's tate, clotting factors) poses. production, infec- tion, and bleeding use, usually by a patient's family member or friend. Erythropoietin (EPO) » A horomone that stimulates production of red blood cells.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn
    Intensive Care Nursery House Staff Manual Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn INTRODUCTION and DEFINITION: Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn (HDN), also known as erythroblastosis fetalis, isoimmunization, or blood group incompatibility, occurs when fetal red blood cells (RBCs), which possess an antigen that the mother lacks, cross the placenta into the maternal circulation, where they stimulate antibody production. The antibodies return to the fetal circulation and result in RBC destruction. DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS of hemolytic anemia in a newborn infant: -Isoimmunization -RBC enzyme disorders (e.g., G6PD, pyruvate kinase deficiency) -Hemoglobin synthesis disorders (e.g., alpha-thalassemias) -RBC membrane abnormalities (e.g., hereditary spherocytosis, elliptocytosis) -Hemangiomas (Kasabach Merritt syndrome) -Acquired conditions, such as sepsis, infections with TORCH or Parvovirus B19 (anemia due to RBC aplasia) and hemolysis secondary to drugs. ISOIMMUNIZATION A. Rh disease (Rh = Rhesus factor) (1) Genetics: Rh positive (+) denotes presence of D antigen. The number of antigenic sites on RBCs varies with genotype. Prevalence of genotype varies with the population. Rh negative (d/d) individuals comprise 15% of Caucasians, 5.5% of African Americans, and <1% of Asians. A sensitized Rh negative mother produces anti-Rh IgG antibodies that cross the placenta. Risk factors for antibody production include 2nd (or later) pregnancies*, maternal toxemia, paternal zygosity (D/D rather than D/d), feto-maternal compatibility in ABO system and antigen load. (2) Clinical presentation of HDN varies from mild jaundice and anemia to hydrops fetalis (with ascites, pleural and pericardial effusions). Because the placenta clears bilirubin, the chief risk to the fetus is anemia. Extramedullary hematopoiesis (due to anemia) results in hepatosplenomegaly.
    [Show full text]
  • Association Between ABO and Duffy Blood Types and Circulating Chemokines and Cytokines
    Genes & Immunity (2021) 22:161–171 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41435-021-00137-5 ARTICLE Association between ABO and Duffy blood types and circulating chemokines and cytokines 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sarah C. Van Alsten ● John G. Aversa ● Loredana Santo ● M. Constanza Camargo ● Troy Kemp ● Jia Liu ● 4 7 8 Wen-Yi Huang ● Joshua Sampson ● Charles S. Rabkin Received: 11 February 2021 / Revised: 30 April 2021 / Accepted: 17 May 2021 / Published online: 8 June 2021 This is a U.S. government work and not under copyright protection in the U.S.; foreign copyright protection may apply 2021, corrected publication 2021 Abstract Blood group antigens are inherited traits that may play a role in immune and inflammatory processes. We investigated associations between blood groups and circulating inflammation-related molecules in 3537 non-Hispanic white participants selected from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial. Whole-genome scans were used to infer blood types for 12 common antigen systems based on well-characterized single-nucleotide polymorphisms. Serum levels of 96 biomarkers were measured on multiplex fluorescent bead-based panels. We estimated marker associations with blood type using weighted linear or logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, smoking status, and principal components of p 1234567890();,: 1234567890();,: population substructure. Bonferroni correction was used to control for multiple comparisons, with two-sided values < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Among the 1152 associations tested, 10 were statistically significant. Duffy blood type was associated with levels of CXCL6/GCP2, CXCL5/ENA78, CCL11/EOTAXIN, CXCL1/GRO, CCL2/MCP1, CCL13/ MCP4, and CCL17/TARC, whereas ABO blood type was associated with levels of sVEGFR2, sVEGFR3, and sGP130.
    [Show full text]
  • Blood Product Replacement: Obstetric Hemorrhage
    CMQCC OBSTETRIC HEMORRHAGE TOOLKIT Version 2.0 3/24/15 BLOOD PRODUCT REPLACEMENT: OBSTETRIC HEMORRHAGE Richard Lee, MD, Los Angeles County and University of Southern California Medical Center Laurence Shields, MD, Marian Regional Medical Center/Dignity Health Holli Mason, MD, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Mark Rollins, MD, PhD, University of California, San Francisco Jed Gorlin, MD, Innovative Blood Resources/Memorial Blood Center, St. Paul, Minnesota Maurice Druzin, MD, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford University Jennifer McNulty, MD, Long Beach Memorial Medical Center EXECUTIVE SUMMARY • Outcomes are improved with early and aggressive intervention. • Both emergency blood release and massive transfusion protocols should be in place. • In the setting of significant obstetric hemorrhage, resuscitation transfusion should be based on vital signs and blood loss and should not be delayed by waiting for laboratory results. • Calcium replacement will often be necessary with massive transfusion due to the citrate used for anticoagulation in blood products. • During massive transfusion resuscitation, the patient’s arterial blood gas, electrolytes, and core temperature should be monitored to guide clinical management and all transfused fluids should be warmed; direct warming of the patient should be initiated as needed to maintain euthermia and to avoid added coagulopathy. BACKGROUND AND LITERATURE REVIEW After the first several units of packed red blood cells (PRBCs) and in the face of continuing or worsening hemorrhage, aggressive transfusion therapy becomes critical. This report covers the experience with massive transfusion protocols. Lessons from military trauma units as well as civilian experience with motor vehicle accidents and massive obstetric hemorrhage have identified new principles such as earlier use of plasma (FFP/thawed plasma/plasma frozen within 24 hours/liquid plasma) and resuscitation transfusion while laboratory results are pending.
    [Show full text]
  • Apheresis Donation This Quick Reference Guide Will Help You Identify the Best Donation for Your Unique Blood Type
    Apheresis Donation This quick reference guide will help you identify the best donation for your unique blood type. Donors now have the opportunity to make an apheresis (ay-fur-ee-sis) donation and donate just platelets, red cells, or plasma at blood drives. These individual components are vital for local patients in need. Platelets Control Bleeding Red Cells Deliver Oxygen Plasma transports blood cells & controls bleeding Donation Type Blood Types Requirements Donation Time A+, B+, O+ Over 75% of population has one of these blood types. Platelet Donation: Be healthy, weigh at least 114 lbs 2 hours cancer & surgery patients no aspirin for 48 hours Platelets only last five days after donation so the need is constant. O-, O+, A-, B- Special height, weight, Double Red: O-Negative is the 1 hour and hematocrit requirements. surgery, trauma patients, universal red cell donor. +25 min Please call us or see a staff member accident, & burn victims Only 17% of population has one of these negative blood types Plasma: AB+, AB- Trauma patients, burn Universal Plasma Donors 1 hour Be healthy, weigh at least 114 lbs victims, & patients with +30 min serious illness or injuries Only 4% of population How Apheresis works: Blood is drawn from the donor’s arm and the components are separated. Only the components being donated are collected while the remaining components are safely returned to the donor How to Schedule an Appointment: Please call 800-398-7888 or visit schedule.bloodworksnw.org. Walk-ins are also welcome at some blood drives, so be sure to ask our staff when you stop in.
    [Show full text]
  • Blood Type and Transplantation & A2 Donor to B Recipient
    Page 1 of 2 Blood Type and Transplantation Information for Kidney Transplant Patients Does blood type matter in transplantation? Everyone waiting for a transplant has their blood typed. You will have one of four blood types: O, A, B or AB. Your blood type is determined by the antigens that are present on your blood cells. These antigens are A or B. These antigens will be found both in your blood and on your organs. What antigen does each blood type have? Blood type O Blood type A Blood type B Blood type AB have no have A antigens. have B antigens. have both A O antigens. A B AB and B antigens. How does my body react to antigens? Your body will react to antigens that are different than your own by attacking with antibodies. Antibodies are proteins created by your immune system to attack anything that does not belong. Antibodies are the soldiers in your body’s army protecting you from foreign invasions such as viruses. Unfortunately, the antibodies cannot tell the difference between harmful viruses and beneficial transplanted organs. What blood type will my donor be? Transplants can occur between all blood types. However, when the donor’s blood type is different than yours and there are different antigens being transplanted on your new organ, your antibodies will be triggered and attack the transplanted organ. This is called rejection. Because of this, transplants usually happen between a donor and a recipient of the same blood type. This is called an identical transplant. Can I get an organ from a donor that has a different blood type than mine? Yes! If you do not have antibodies in your body against the antigens that come from the donor, your immune system should not attack the transplanted organ.
    [Show full text]
  • The Johns Hopkins Comprehensive Transplant Center Incompatible Kidney Transplant Programs
    The Johns Hopkins Comprehensive Transplant Center Incompatible Kidney Transplant Programs The Johns Hopkins Comprehensive Transplant Center’s Incompatible Kidney Transplantation Program allows many patients previously thought to be “incompatible” to receive the gift of life. The program is comprised of several elements: Blood Type Incompatible Kidney Transplant Program Positive Crossmatch and Sensitized Patient Program Paired Kidney Exhange Program Altruistic Donor Program Blood Type Incompatible Kidney Transplant Program More than one-third of willing live donors are turned down because their blood types are not compatible with the person to whom they wish to donate their kidney. Most of us have natural antibodies against organs from people with different blood types. These antibodies can rapidly destroy a transplanted kidney. The Blood Type Incompatible Transplant Program allows patients to receive a kidney from a live donor who has an incompatible blood type (see fig1.). Patients in this program must be willing to undergo all prescribed treatments before and after the transplant to remove harmful antibodies and decrease the risk of rejection. Figure 1: Blood Type Compatibility Chart Donor Recipient How are harmful antibodies removed? Harmful antibodies are removed with a process called plasmapheresis, a procedure similar to dialysis that removes the plasma portion of the blood where antibodies are located. The number of plasmapheresis treatments required by the recipient before surgery varies depending on the amount of harmful antibodies in their blood. After each plasmapheresis the recipient receives an intravenous infusion of immune globulin to replace antibodies needed to fight infections and help prevent harmful antibodies from returning. Once the antibodies against the donor’s blood type decrease to very low levels, the transplantation can take place.
    [Show full text]
  • Direct Antibody Test (DAT) Positive
    Direct antibody test (DAT) positive Information for patients, parents and guardians As part of your routine pregnancy screening, you However, only a small number of DAT positive have had a direct antibody test (DAT). We’ve babies will develop these problems. Babies given you this factsheet to explain what a DAT who are not DAT positive can still develop involves and what it means if your baby is DAT anaemia and jaundice. A positive DAT simply positive. If you have any further questions, tells us to look out for any signs of anaemia and please speak to a member of your healthcare jaundice. It does not necessarily mean that your team who will be pleased to advise you. baby will need treatment. What is a direct antibody test (DAT)? If we find out that you have rhesus negative During pregnancy, some of the blood between (Rh-) blood during pregnancy, we may give the mother and baby may mix. This mixing of you an injection called anti-D to stop your blood sometimes produces antibodies (proteins body making antibodies against your baby’s that are part of your body’s natural defences) blood. Occasionally this injection causes the which may become a problem for the baby. DAT result to come out positive. Babies who are DAT positive for this reason do not usually As part of routine antenatal (pregnancy) develop anaemia or jaundice. screening blood tests, your midwife will record your blood type (blood group) and check What is anaemia? whether your blood contains any antibodies Anaemia is a very common condition where the that may affect your baby’s red blood cells.
    [Show full text]
  • Neonatal Unconjugated Hyperbilirubinemia: Risk Assessment and Management
    Neonatal Unconjugated Hyperbilirubinemia: Risk Assessment and Management SHEENA BHAVSAR, PA-C PEDIATRIC FACULTY BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE Objectives . Importance and Impact on infant health . Physiologic and Pathologic causes of hyperbilirubinemia in newborns . Guide to a systematic risk assessment . Management . Follow up . Common parent/provider questions Unconjugated Hyperbilirubinemia . Elevated levels of bilirubin in the blood, >95th percentile based to the hour specific nomogram . Severe hyperbilirubinemia is defined as > 25mg/dL . One of the primary causes of hospital readmission of neonates . Usually peaks between 3-5 days of life Bilirubin Encephalopathy - highly neurotoxic substance - can bind to brain tissue and cause neurologic dysfunction . ACUTE (hypotonia, lethargy, poor suck irritability, high pitched cry, intermittent hypertonia , seizures, fever, apnea, coma) VS . CHRONIC (movement disorders, auditory neuropathy, oculomotor dysfunction, GI concerns) KERNICTERUS Causes? INCREASED ERYTHROCYTE DECREASED BILIRUBIN BREAKDOWN CLEARANCE . Physiologic Jaundice . Physiologic Jaundice . Trauma . Breastmilk Jaundice . Blood Incompatibility . Anatomic Obstruction . Infection . Liver enzyme defect . Enzyme Deficiency . Drug Induced . Globin Synthesis Defect . Liver Disease . Membrane conditions . Metabolic INCREASED ERYTHROCYTE DECREASED BILIRUBIN BREAKDOWN CLEARANCE . Physiologic Jaundice . Physiologic Jaundice . Trauma . Breastmilk Jaundice . Blood Incompatibility . Anatomic Obstruction . Infection . Liver enzyme defect . Enzyme
    [Show full text]
  • Equine Blood Typing Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital
    Equine Blood Typing Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital Horses have 7 different red blood cell groups or systems, named A, C, D, K, P, Q, and U. Each system corresponds to a particular gene for which two or more alleles exists. The blood group genes produce surface molecules that contain antigenic sites known as factors. Over 30 different factors have been identified. The blood groups are named with an upper case letter to denote the system and a lower case letter to designate the factor (antigen). There are variable numbers of factors for each blood group. The VMTH Hematology laboratory types for the blood factors: A (a,b,c), Ca, Ka, P (a,b), Q (a,b,c), and Ua. For either a potential whole blood or plasma donor, a blood type and antibody screen is indicated. Whole Blood Transfusions Whole blood transfusions are useful in the treatment of acute hemorrhage in the horse. We recommend the donor has a blood type of AaCa positive, since a majority of horses have this blood type, and a negative antibody screen. We do not recommend whole blood transfusions without knowing the blood type of the recipient. Many veterinary laboratories are able to perform a simple hemagglutination crossmatch that should identify a large percentage of potential incompatibilities. The majority of horses lack naturally occurring antibodies, so a first whole blood transfusion is usually without consequence. Whenever a mare is given a whole blood transfusion, she is potentially being sensitized to blood group factors that may lead to NI problems in future foals. Subsequent transfusions increase the likelihood of transfusion reactions and thus should always undergo more extensive workup.
    [Show full text]
  • Blood Transfusion and Donation
    cancer.org | 1.800.227.2345 Blood Transfusion and Donation Transfusions of blood and blood products temporarily replace parts of the blood when a person's body can't make its own or has lost them from bleeding. Here, we describe blood and its components and why they are important. We also explain how blood is donated and transfused and how this relates to people with cancer. ● Blood Transfusions for People with Cancer ● Getting a Blood Transfusion ● Alternatives to Blood Transfusions ● Donating Blood ● Can I Donate Blood if I’m a Cancer Survivor? Blood Transfusions for People with Cancer A transfusion is putting blood or some part of it into a person’s vein through an intravenous (IV) line. Transfusions of blood and blood products may be given to a person who is bleeding or who can’t make enough blood cells. Blood transfusions save millions of lives in the United States every year. People usually donate whole blood – blood taken right out of a vein through a needle. This whole blood may be called a unit or pint of blood, and equals about 450 milliliters 1 ____________________________________________________________________________________American Cancer Society cancer.org | 1.800.227.2345 or 16.7 ounces. But whole blood is rarely given as a transfusion. Blood has many parts (called components), and each one does a different job. Whole blood is usually separated into red blood cells, platelets, and plasma. Plasma can be further separated into clotting factors and certain proteins. This lets doctors give patients only what they need. It also helps to get the most out of the donated blood.
    [Show full text]
  • Clinical Transfusion Practice
    Clinical Transfusion Practice Guidelines for Medical Interns Foreword Blood transfusion is an important part of day‐to‐day clinical practice. Blood and blood products provide unique and life‐saving therapeutic benefits to patients. However, due to resource constraints, it is not always possible for the blood product to reach the patient at the right time. The major concern from the point of view of both user (recipient) and prescriber (clinician) is for safe, effective and quality blood to be available when required. Standard practices should be in place to include appropriate testing, careful selection of donors, screening of donations, compatibility testing, storage of donations for clinical use, issue of blood units for either routine or emergency use, appropriate use of blood supplied or the return of units not needed after issue, and reports of transfusion reactions – all are major aspects where standard practices need to be implemented. In order to implement guidelines for standard transfusion practices, a coordinated team effort by clinicians, blood transfusion experts, other laboratory personnel and health care providers involved in the transfusion chain, is needed. Orientation of standard practices is vital in addressing these issues to improve the quality of blood transfusion services. Bedside clinicians and medical interns are in the forefront of patient management. They are responsible for completing blood request forms, administering blood, monitoring transfusions and being vigilant for the signs and symptoms of adverse reactions.
    [Show full text]
  • FINDING RARE DONORS Blood Centres May Test Blood Donors For
    FINDING RARE DONORS Blood centres may test blood donors for certain rare blood types in the following circumstances: A patient with a long -term illness like cancer or Sickle Cell Disease may require ongoing supply of a particular rare blood type. There is an overall shortage of a specific rare blood type. A community has a high percentage of African -American, Asians or other ethnic minorities among its population. It needs to be able to supply the rare blood types found more frequently among those groups. WE’RE COUNTING ON YOU Because blood types are inherited, a person with a rare blood type may have family members with that same rare type. In fact, the chances are one in four that the brothers or sisters of a person with a rare blood type will have the same rare blood type. In such cases, the family members may be approached by the blood centre to be typed and join the National registry, and the International Rare Donor Program. Most blood donors can give blood as often as every eight weeks. We depend on rare donors to give blood regularly. Each precious bag of rare blood can be frozen in long term storage facilities for up to 10 years., so it will be available for patients as needed. Perhaps most important of all, please donate when you are contacted, if you are able. If we ask, it means that your blood is needed urgently. FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about rare donors and the International Rare Donor Program, please contact your local blood centre or access the internet.
    [Show full text]