Blood Donation
Blood Donation
OVERVIEW:
A blood bank Bottom of Form is a vital part of the modern health care system. It is a place where blood is collected and stored before it is used for transfusions. Blood donation is a voluntary procedure that can help save lives. The department uses state-of-the-art technology and stringent quality control protocols to ensure timely supply of blood and blood products. Apollo Cancer Centre Blood Bank is one of the most advanced centres in Chennai, operating since 1994. This is one of the few centres in the country using Nuclear Amplification Technology (NAT).
Process of blood donation
The Blood Centre receives the donors for blood and apheresis donation and screens them through a physical examination and set of questions.
Precautions are taken to ensure that the Blood Donation process is safely conducted. The process of blood donation takes 30 minutes. The donor is requested to stay in the Blood Centre for 20 more minutes post donation for observation.
There are several types of blood donation. Each type helps meet different medical needs.
- Whole blood donation - This is the most common type of blood donation, during which you donate up to 450 ml of whole blood. The blood is then separated into its components — red blood cells, plasma cells and platelets.
-
Apheresis - During apheresis, you are hooked up to a machine that can collect and separate blood components, including red cells, plasma and platelets, and return unused components back to you.
- Platelet donation (plateletpheresis) collects only platelets. Donated platelets are commonly given to people with clotting problems or cancer or those going through major surgeries.
- Double red cell donation allows you to donate a concentrated amount of red blood cells. These red blood cells are typically given to people with severe blood loss following traumatic injury or sickle cell anemia.
- Plasma donation (plasmapheresis) collects the liquid portion of the blood (plasma). Plasma is commonly given to people with severe blood loss following traumatic injury.
Blood Bank “Blood is the elixir of life- donating blood takes one hour of your life but it saves lifetimes of 3 people- Donate blood and Save lives”