When you receive a blood transfusion, what has been done to the blood in preparation for the procedure?

Question

Thank you

Answer 1

Any blood for transfusion is tested to assure safety of the person who will receive such transfusion. If the blood is to be given whole blood then it is transfused as it is after tested. If packed RBC is to be given then the plasma is separated. While in the blood bank it is kept refrigerated. Proper blood grouping and cross matching is done to check for the compatibility with the recipient. That is:a blood sample from the recipient will be collected and sent to laboratory to check for compatibility. Before transfusion, it must be warmed.

Answer 2

The blood is initially collected into a bag containing an anticoagulant. The blood is screened for Hepatitis, HIV and blood borne STD's like syphilis. It is also typed. Prior to administration it may be spun down to separate the plasma from the red blood cells. Other components may also be separated out.

When the doctor orders a transfusion it is usually for packed RBC's. (The plasma that was previously removed is usually frozen and used for other things.) A sample of your blood is collected and typed and the lab determines what units that they have on hand are compatible with yours.

When the nurse is ready to administer the blood, she checks it with the lab. Then at the bedside she checks it with a bracelet that the lab has sent up to be placed on your wrist. All of this is done so that patients don't get the wrong blood, which could be catastrophic.

Answer 3

When a unit of blood is donated the unit under goes a series of tests to ensure it is safe for transfusion. Testing includes Hepatitus, HIV, syphyllis, liver enzymes etc. The blood will then be typed to determine its ABO group and Rh status. Most blood banks now leukoreduce the blood - that means the blood is run thru a special filter to remove the white blood cells. The blood is the centifuged and the platelets and plasma removed - the platelets (called random platelets) can be pooled (combined) with other random platelets from other donors and given to someone with a low platelet count or platelet disorder. The plasma will be frozen and stored at -20 C. When needed it will be thawed for another individual who is having trouble with clotting. The actual unit of blood is now called a leuko-reduced packed RBC unit. It is available for transfusion into yet another individual. Depending on the anticoagulant in the bag, the unit will be good for roughly 8 weeks - give or take.

Answer 4

actually, the blood does NOT need to be warmed prior to administering to the patient unless the patient has cold agglutinins.

Answer 5

Nothing is done to the blood itself. It has been tested to make sure there is no transference of disease, etc.

Answer 6

Well, if you have had a bone marrow transplant, it has to be irradiated. Otherwise, nothing.