Who can donate blood? Men and women between the ages 18 and 65 can donate blood. The doctor examines the blood donor in detail. The doctor collects the health background of the donor, his or her blood pressure, height, body temperature, pulsation, haemoglobin content etc. When all these details are found satisfactory, the doctor directs the donor to donate blood. Extra care is taken in the case of those who donate blood for the first time. Only clinically processed instruments are used to extract blood without pain.
1. The body weight of the donor must be over 45 kilogram.
2. The blood to be donated must have more than 12.5 grams of haemoglobin content.
3. Men can donate once in 3 months and women can donate once in 4 months. Starting with the 18th year and till the 65th year a man can donate blood four times a year for a period of 47 years. In other words one can donate blood approximately 180 – 190 times. Each time 350 ml blood will be taken. This means a person in one’s life time can donate 250 litre blood, and can save 500 to 600 lives.
4. At the time of donating blood the blood pressure of the donor should not be high nor low. Blood pressure should be in the range of 100 – 140 and diastolic blood pressure should be between 70 – 100. Such persons can safely donate blood.
5. The body temperature of the donor should not be more than 37.5 degree centigrade. Donors with fever should not donate blood.
6. The pulse rate of the donor should be in the range of 60 – 100, and there should not be any variation in the pulse rate.
Depending on the body weight of the donor 350 – 400 ml blood will be collected. If whole blood is to be extracted 350 ml blood will be collected in one bag. For the purpose of separating blood for different blood cells, 450 ml blood will be collected in two bags. The blood thus collected will be stored in special bags containing anti-clotting substance. The blood will be examined to find out any contagious diseases such as hepatitis B and C, H I V, malaria, syphilis. The blood will be used only when it is found safe. If the blood contains any of the above diseases, it will not be donated. Such blood will be sterilised scientifically.
The blood collected from the donor and ascertained safe will be refrigerated at proper temperature. Normally whole blood and separated corpuscles are stored at 4 – 6 degree centigrades and this can be used for a period of 32 – 42 days. After the expiry date the blood will be sterilised scientifically. Sometimes plasma will be separated from the blood.
The separated plasma can be preserved for a year at -40 degree centigrade, and for a period of 5 to 7 years at – 80 degree centigrade. Sometimes, the separated cryoprecipitate can be stored for a year at – 40 degree centigrade. This is used to remediate the ailments such as haemophilia and the problems of clotting inside the blood vessels (D.I.C.). Sometimes platelets are separated and stored at 22 degrees centigrade for about 5 days. These blood cells are used in the treatment of dengue, chickengunya and haemophilia patients. Platelets, however, cannot be preserved more than 5 days.
Dr.Muralee Mohan Choonthar
Suraksha Dental Clinic, Hosangadi
Manjeshwara – 671323 ,Kasaragoad, Kerala.
Mob. : 9845135787 Ph: 04998-273544, 235111
www.surakshadental.com email: drmuraleemohan@gmail.com
