FAQ on Blood Donation

Who can donate blood at Jeevan Blood Bank?
Jeevan accepts blood only from safe, non-remunerated voluntary blood donors with clean medical history.

How often can one donate blood?
A healthy individual (male or female) can donate blood once in 90 days subject to acceptable level of pre-donation Haemoglobin concentration. We recommend blood donation twice a year.

How can I save four lives ?
The blood you donate can be split into four components - Red Blood Cells, Platelets, Plasma and Cryoprecipitate.

Can I develop AIDS, Hepatitis or any other disease by donating blood?
NO. Because every time you donate blood a disposable bag and needle is used to collect your blood. 

Are there any steps I need to follow after blood donation?
After blood donation you need to take rest for at least 10 - 15 minutes. Light refreshments will be provided. You also need to follow these guidelines: 


CLARIFYING SOME MYTHS

Blood donation requires external motivation - most people are easily misled by misconceptions and hesitate to donate blood. Some are scared at the thought of a needle poking their vein to collect blood. Some others feel uncomfortable at the sight of blood.
Here is some scientific evidence that will clarify most misconceptions.

Will I become weak and anaemic after donating blood?
Donating blood is unlikely to make a person weak or anaemic. If the person is already anaemic, then the person will not be allowed to donate blood.Your hemoglobin will fall by about 2 gms/dl soon after blood donation and return to the original level by 90 days. This is the reason Jeevan does a hemoglobin test before every blood donation.

What happens to the blood I lose? Will I get it back?
Blood volume returns to normal level within 48 hours after blood donation. Usually not more than 350 ml of blood is collected in one donation. This is roughly less than 7% of the total blood volume in an average healthy person. Male has 76ml per Kg body weight and female 66 ml per Kg. No ill effect will happen upto a blood loss of 12ml/Kg body weight.

Will I get any disease when I donate?
NEVER. Reputed donation centres and blood banks usually use sterile single use bags and needles and have trained staff to handle the process. There is no risk of catching any disease in the process of donating blood.

Will my BP go down after donating blood?
Some people are anxious during blood donation and their anxiety shows up as a slightly elevated pulse rate. Usually this becomes normal within a few minutes. Blood donation does not usually affect blood pressure.

Will I feel giddy after donation?
Unlikely. The feeling of giddiness is more psychological than physiological. There is no need to be anxious about blood donation. It is safe, easy and painless.

Will I lose my red cells in the blood if I donate frequently?
No. A person can safely donate blood every 90 days. Donating at regular intervals does not result in loss of haemoglobin or red cells.

Why is only a component of the blood used and not the whole blood ?
Thanks to the understanding of the fucntions of the components of the blood, blood transfusion has been made safer by transfusing only the needed component of the blood to the patients. For example, RBCs for those who are anaemic and those undergoing surgery, Platelets for children and adults whose platelet count is low due to disease or medication they receive for the the treatment of cancer and Plasma for those with burn injuries or bleeding problems. Apart from providing the right component, this approach helps in optimal use of available blood.

What is the shelf life of various components ?
RBCs can be stored up to 42 days at 2 - 6 C, Platelets for 5 days at 20 - 24 C with constant agitation and Plasma for one year at less than - 30 C. When stored as whole blood , the clotting factors in the plasma lose their efficacy in 8 hours and the platelets lose their function after 24 hours.

How is blood safety ensured ?
Blood transfusion can never be 100 % safe. What is safe today may not be safe a decade from now as knowledge improves. Examples for this is the new knowledge on Hepatitis B Virus and HIV Virus. Currently law in India requires testing of each unit of donated blood (not the donor prior to donation) for Hepatitis B (HBsAg), HIV (Antibody Test) VDRL, and Malaria. However, blood banks are expected to ensure the safety by testing the donor blood for diseases known to be transmitted at that point of time using internationally approved methodologies. This is what Jeevan does using combination of tests recommended by Indian Government and those recommended by the international scientific community.

Jeevan Blood Bank provides you the safest blood components in the whole country at this point of time by screening each unit of donor blood by internationally approved methods for:

What is Nucliec Acid Testing (NAT)?
NAT is a highly sensitive molecular diagnostic toolwhich looks for the presence of viral RNA / DNA. Conventional testing by ELISA looks for antibodies for the infecting agent which takes a few weeks to appear in blood. This period is called the 'Window Period'. In NAT, we detect the virus (RNA & DNA). Hence this technique reduces the window period dramatically and enhances blood safety. More on NAT.

How is the compatibility test done between the blood of donor and recipient?
It is often assumed that if the donor and recipient belong to the same blood group their blood will be compatible. But in reality it is not so. Apart for A, B, and O group antigens there are many other blood group antigens on the Red cell surface of every human being. Under normal circumstances a full panel cross-match is done using GEL technology before every unit is released for transfusion. Only in the event of emergencies and if the consultant orders blood component without full panel cross-match, the same is issued with only ABOD compatibility testing. 

Are there situations when a full panel cross-match is not performed?
In the event of emergencies and if the consultant and family request for blood components without full panel cross match, the same is issued with only ABOD compatibility testing.

Are the blood components available any time of the day?
Yes. Blood components are issued 24 hours a day subject to availability of compatible units. 

Does the patient have to pay for the blood component?
Unfortunately yes.Even though the blood is obtained from voluntary blood donors, the cost of the special bag, mandatory testing, (Link to cost govt letter 2008 pdf) additional tests done to ensure blood safety, processing, storage, purchase and maintenance of expensive, staff salary, rent etc have to be borne by the recipients. Jeevan is a not for profit Institution and is dependent on this income and donations for its day-to-day functioning.

As a regular blood donor will I be charged the processing fee for the blood if I need it?
We appreciate the commitment of the regular blood donors (those who donate twice a year). Blood units equivalent to the number of donations will be made available, subject to availability at that point of time, will be provided free of any processing cost. This facility is for the dependent parents, spouse, children and siblings.