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Questions and answers about blood donation
How much blood is donated each year?
About 12.6 million units (including approximately 643,000 autologous donations) of whole blood are donated in the United States each year by approximately eight million volunteer blood donors. These units are transfused to about four million patients per year.
Typically, each donated unit of blood, referred to as whole blood, is separated into multiple components, such as red blood cells, plasma and platelets. Each component is generally transfused to a different individual, each with different needs.
The need for blood is great - on any given day, approximately 34,000 units of red blood cells are needed. Accident victims, people undergoing surgery and patients receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or other diseases, such as sickle cell disease and thalassemia, all utilize blood. More than 23 million units of blood components are transfused every year.
Who donates blood?
Less than 5 percent of healthy Americans eligible to donate blood actually do so. According to studies, the average donor is a college-educated white male, between the ages of 30 and 50, who is married and has an above-average income. However, a broad cross-section of the population donates every day.
Furthermore, these “average” statistics are changing, and women and minority groups are volunteering to donate in increasing numbers. While persons 65 years and older compose 13 percent of the population, they use 25 percent of all blood units transfused.
Patients scheduled for surgery may be eligible to donate blood for themselves, a process known as autologous blood donation. In the weeks before non-emergency surgery, an autologous donor may be able to donate blood that will be stored until the surgical procedure.
What are the criteria for blood donation?
To be eligible to donate blood, a person must generally be at least 17 years of age (although some states permit younger people to donate with parental consent); be in good health; and weigh at least 110 pounds. Most blood banks have no upper age limit. All donors must pass the physical and health history examinations given prior to donation.
The donor's body replenishes the fluid lost from donation in 24 hours. It may take up to two months to replace the lost red blood cells. Whole blood can be donated once every eight weeks.
What is the most common blood type?
The approximate distribution of blood types in the US population is as follows. Distribution may be different for specific racial and ethnic groups:
O Rh-positive - 38 percent
B Rh-positive - 9 percent
O Rh-negative - 7 percent
B Rh-negative - 2 percent
A Rh-positive - 34 percent
AB Rh-positive - 3 percent
A Rh-negative - 6 percent
AB Rh-negative - 1 percent
In an emergency, anyone can receive type O red blood cells, and type AB individuals can receive red blood cells of any ABO type. Therefore, people with type O blood are known as “universal donors” and those with type AB blood are known as “universal recipients.” In addition, AB Plasma donors can give to all blood types.
What tests are performed on donated blood?
After blood is drawn, it is tested for ABO group (blood type) and Rh type (positive or negative), as well as for any unexpected red blood cell antibodies that may cause problems in the recipient. Screening tests also are performed for evidence of donor infection, such as hepatitis viruses B and C, human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) 1 and 2, human T-lymphotropic viruses (HTLV) I and II, and syphilis. The specific tests performed are listed below:
Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)
Hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc)
Hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV)
HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibody (anti-HIV-1 and anti-HIV-2)
HIV p24 antigen
HTLV-I and HTLV-II antibody (anti-HTLV-I and anti-HTLV-II)
Serologic test for syphilis
Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing (NAT)
Note: NAT is still a research initiative and many blood collection organizations are pursuing implementation under the FDA's Investigational New Drug (IND) application process.
When are blood donors needed most?
While blood donors are needed throughout the year, they are most needed during holidays and in the summer. It is during these times that the number of donations declines while the demand continues or even increases. While a given individual may be unable to donate, he or she may be able to recruit a suitable donor. Relatives and friends of a patient requiring a blood transfusion may wish to help their loved one. Donating blood to replenish the units that were needed is one of the best gifts one can give.
About 12.6 million units (including approximately 643,000 autologous donations) of whole blood are donated in the United States each year by approximately eight million volunteer blood donors. These units are transfused to about four million patients per year.
Typically, each donated unit of blood, referred to as whole blood, is separated into multiple components, such as red blood cells, plasma and platelets. Each component is generally transfused to a different individual, each with different needs.
The need for blood is great - on any given day, approximately 34,000 units of red blood cells are needed. Accident victims, people undergoing surgery and patients receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or other diseases, such as sickle cell disease and thalassemia, all utilize blood. More than 23 million units of blood components are transfused every year.
Who donates blood?
Less than 5 percent of healthy Americans eligible to donate blood actually do so. According to studies, the average donor is a college-educated white male, between the ages of 30 and 50, who is married and has an above-average income. However, a broad cross-section of the population donates every day.
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Patients scheduled for surgery may be eligible to donate blood for themselves, a process known as autologous blood donation. In the weeks before non-emergency surgery, an autologous donor may be able to donate blood that will be stored until the surgical procedure.
What are the criteria for blood donation?
To be eligible to donate blood, a person must generally be at least 17 years of age (although some states permit younger people to donate with parental consent); be in good health; and weigh at least 110 pounds. Most blood banks have no upper age limit. All donors must pass the physical and health history examinations given prior to donation.
The donor's body replenishes the fluid lost from donation in 24 hours. It may take up to two months to replace the lost red blood cells. Whole blood can be donated once every eight weeks.
What is the most common blood type?
The approximate distribution of blood types in the US population is as follows. Distribution may be different for specific racial and ethnic groups:
O Rh-positive - 38 percent
B Rh-positive - 9 percent
O Rh-negative - 7 percent
B Rh-negative - 2 percent
A Rh-positive - 34 percent
AB Rh-positive - 3 percent
A Rh-negative - 6 percent
AB Rh-negative - 1 percent
In an emergency, anyone can receive type O red blood cells, and type AB individuals can receive red blood cells of any ABO type. Therefore, people with type O blood are known as “universal donors” and those with type AB blood are known as “universal recipients.” In addition, AB Plasma donors can give to all blood types.
What tests are performed on donated blood?
After blood is drawn, it is tested for ABO group (blood type) and Rh type (positive or negative), as well as for any unexpected red blood cell antibodies that may cause problems in the recipient. Screening tests also are performed for evidence of donor infection, such as hepatitis viruses B and C, human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) 1 and 2, human T-lymphotropic viruses (HTLV) I and II, and syphilis. The specific tests performed are listed below:
Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)
Hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc)
Hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV)
HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibody (anti-HIV-1 and anti-HIV-2)
HIV p24 antigen
HTLV-I and HTLV-II antibody (anti-HTLV-I and anti-HTLV-II)
Serologic test for syphilis
Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing (NAT)
Note: NAT is still a research initiative and many blood collection organizations are pursuing implementation under the FDA's Investigational New Drug (IND) application process.
When are blood donors needed most?
While blood donors are needed throughout the year, they are most needed during holidays and in the summer. It is during these times that the number of donations declines while the demand continues or even increases. While a given individual may be unable to donate, he or she may be able to recruit a suitable donor. Relatives and friends of a patient requiring a blood transfusion may wish to help their loved one. Donating blood to replenish the units that were needed is one of the best gifts one can give.
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| Blood supplies need replenishing during holidays | Community calendar |
Reader Comments
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AmyMinoy wrote on Dec 3, 2008 9:33 PM: