The Role of Blood Donation in
Healthcare
Presented by Peter Hudson
Clinical Specialist in Blood Transfusion
WHERE DO WE GET OUR BLOOD
SUPPLIES FROM?
•UK sourced from voluntary unpaid donors
•Collected and processed by the National Blood Service
WHY GIVE BLOOD?
• Over 35,000 donations weekly
- 1.4 million donors
- Only 4% of people give blood
• 10-15% donor loss per year
-
Donors don’t give every time
-
Constantly “topping-up”
WHO ARE THE
NATIONAL BLOOD SERVICE?

Part of the National Health Service

Provide blood and blood products to hospitals
A BRIEF HISTORY
OF BLOOD DONATION
• 1666: First successful blood transfusion
• 1900: Four Human blood types discovered
• 1946: National Blood Service Launched
SO WHAT EXACTLY IS BLOOD?
• Transfers oxygen from the lungs
• Communication System within body
• Average person has 5 litres of blood
COMPONENTS AND THEIR ROLES
• Red Cells
- Distribute oxygen and nutrients
- Contain haemoglobin
• White Cells
- Fight infection
- Several different types
COMPONENTS AND THEIR ROLES
• Platelets
- Form a “plug” to stop bleeding
- 5 day shelf-life
• Plasma
- Carries other blood cells
- Carries Albumin and Factor Viii
BLOOD TYPES
• A, B, AB and O
• Antigens
- A and B antigens
-
Rh Antigen
BLOOD TYPES
BLOOD AROUND THE WORLD
• Prevalence varies across the world
- B more common in South Asian people than Westerners
- Anthropology
• Some blood conditions are more common in
different communities
- Sickle Cell Anaemia and Thalassemia
- Events of the past, e.g. plague
WHO NEEDS BLOOD?
General surgery
10%
Gastro intestinal bleeding
11%
Haematology
15%
• How many units get used?
- Open heart surgery = 2-8 red cell units, 6 platelet units
- Car accident = 4-40 red cell units
Anaemia
23%
Orthopaedics
14%
RECIPIENT STORIES
BROOKE CORNWELL
• 2 years old – has received 27 units of blood
• Has Diamond Blackfan Anaemia
• Needs blood every month to live
RECIPIENT STORIES
LUKE CRAIG
• Involved in a horrific car crash
• Internal bleeding and tear in his heart
• Emergency operation – 24 units of blood
RECIPIENT STORIES
MIKE AUSTIN
• Severe motorbike accident
• Leg destroyed – artery damaged
• Received 33 units of blood
RECIPIENT STORIES
AWELE NWOSU-AKEH
• 17 year old with Sickle Cell Anaemia
• Receives blood every 4 weeks
• Blood allows her to have a normal life
RECIPIENT STORIES
KEIRA
• Kostmann’s syndrome
• Bowel removed
• 9 units of red cells and 7 of platelets
RECIPIENT STORIES
NISA HEYS
• Has Thalassaemia Major
• Has transfusions every 3 weeks
• Received over 1300 units of blood so far
CAN YOU DONATE?
• You must be aged between 17-65 to donate for the first time
• Most common criteria we check are:- Tattoos
- Piercings
- Travel
- Medication
• You will always be asked to fill out a Donor Health Check questionnaire
CAN YOU DONATE? (MYTHS)
“I could die as a result of donation”
“I might catch something”
“You don’t want my blood”
“You experiment on our blood”
“It hurts”!
“I ALWAYS faint”!
“I smoke and drink alcohol”
THE DONATION PROCESS
Making the call
Fill out the
questionnaire
Arrive at session
The donation
Aftercare
DONOR ETHNICITY
White
Mixed
South Asian
African & Caribbean
Chinese
Any Other Group
“25% of the South Asian ethnic population
are blood group B and only 9% of Western
Europeans share this group”
DONOR ETHNICITY (cont)
• We need to build the British Bone Marrow Registry
British Bone Marrow Register
• Some tissue types are specific to certain ethnic
groups of the population
• The notion of blood donation does not enter
personal and social spheres
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE BLOOD?
• Kept cool then collected
• Typed and tested
• Components Separated
• Banked and ready to go!
WHAT IS THE BLOOD TESTED FOR?
VIRUSES
HIV 1 and 2
Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)
Hepatitis C Virus (HBC)
HTLV (Human T- cell Leukaemia
Virus)
Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
THEY DON’T JUST COLLECT BLOOD
• Bone Marrow
• Organs
• Cord Blood
• Tissue
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING
Any Questions?