Maintaining a Balance
Topic 12: Donated Blood and its Products
Biology in Focus, HSC Course
Glenda Childrawi, Margaret Robson and Stephanie Hollis
DOT POINT
 Analyse information from secondary sources to identify and
describe the products extracted from donated blood and the
uses of these products.
Donated Blood
Almost 200 years ago, humans trialled human-to-human blood
transfusions in an attempt to treat massive bleeding and its
associated risks. At first, these transfusions gave mixed results –
some were highly successful, whereas others resulted in death in
patients.
heart-valve-surgery.com
Donated Blood
It was only discovered 8o years later that people have specific,
inherited blood types and that transfusions of incompatible blood
groups were fatal.
beltina.org
Donated Blood
Cross-matching of blood groups became the first and critical step
before blood donation could take place and, as the number of
successful transfusions increased, many lives were saved,
particularly during wars. Since the early 1900’s major advances
in blood donation technology have been made, largely driven by
the military.
historyking.com
Research Challenge
The initial challenge facing
blood transfusion units was the
lack of available on-site donors.
Research into blood donation
technology progressed and the
shelf life of blood was increased
by adding chemicals such as
citrate-glucose, making the
storage of blood and the
development of ‘blood banks’
possible.
citysolapur.com
Research Challenge
Challenges facing blood banks
continued, including insufficient
supplies, short shelf life and the
difficulty in transporting donated
blood under the necessary
refrigerated conditions,
particularly in war zones. Up to
half the deaths of soldiers on
battlefields were due to severe
bleeding because donated blood
could not reach them in time.
worldwar42.blogspot.com
Research Challenge
Continued research led to a move away from using whole blood.
Instead, donated blood was separated by centrifugation and
filtration into its component parts, commonly referred to as
products of donated blood.
newsurg.com
Research Challenge
These products, including red blood cells, platelets, plasma and
plasma proteins allow the treatment of the particular need of
each patient by transfusing only the specific required blood
products rather than whole blood has tripled the number of
transfusions that can be given for each unit of blood donated.
newsurg.com
Research Challenge
Research then began earnest, directed towards the development
of better techniques for processing and storing blood products to
increase their shelf life and make them easier to transport. For
example, to battlefields and sites of natural disasters.
advantagemagazine.ca
Research Challenge
An enormous problem which arose in the 1980’s was the risk of
contracting infections from donated blood. Patients such as
haemophiliacs, who were regular recipients of blood products
that contained coagulants, were particularly affected.
daviddarling.info
Research Challenge
Blood and blood products were being screened for infective
agents, but the viruses which caused diseases such as AIDS and
hepatitis could bypass normal screening methods, because of a
‘window period’ between the infection of the donor and the
possibility of their presence being detected in donated blood.
This led to a new surge in research for safer blood products.
orthocath.wordpress.com
Research Challenge
One common trend that arose at around this time was a change
from allogenic transfusion (blood donated by one person and
transfused into another) to autologous transfusion (collection of
blood and its re-transfusion into the same person). For example,
some patients would donate their own blood and have it stored
for their own future use, such as impending surgery.
nybc.org
Research Challenge
Current research continues to try to improve blood screening
methods, as well as to evaluate and improve the quality of stored
blood and its products. There is also research to try and increase
the shelf life by implementing new methods of preservation such
as freeze fractioning and recombinant manufacturing technology.
frenchtribune.com
Research Challenge
Another idea that arose as a result of ongoing shortages of blood
and blood products, was to create ‘artificial blood’ – a suitable
chemical blood substitute which could be transfused into patients
to temporarily provide some of the essential life-giving functions
of blood until the patient’s bone marrow could make enough
blood to replenish their normal supply.
bhsworldlitopedia.wikispaces.com
Research Challenge
An understanding of the difficulties and risks of transfusions of
donated blood and blood products gives us a good idea of the
importance of the development of suitable blood substitutes.
Technologies have enabled huge advances in blood research.
livbit.com
Products of Donated Blood
Blood products are currently grouped into two main categories,
depending on their shelf life: labile products and stable products.
Labile products are perishable blood components that have a
short shelf life and must be transported under specific
refrigerated conditions. Examples include packed red blood cells,
platelets, plasma, plasma proteins and cryoprecipitate.
hema-quebec.qc.ca
Products of Donated Blood
Stable products have a much longer shelf life and are produced
by fractioning (separating) the different protein components from
the plasma or by recombinant (genetic) manufacturing methods.
Examples include blood clotting factors, immunoglobulins and
the blood protein albumin. All of these products are associated
with little or no plasma
donateblood.com.au
Products of Donated Blood
Blood products and blood substitutes can also be grouped
according to their function. Some examples include:
Category (based on function)
Blood volume expanders
Oxygen carriers
Blood Product
Plasma, albumin
Packed red blood cells
Coagulants
Platelets and clotting
factors
Immunoglobulins
Products for immune defence
Activity/Homework
Complete DOT Point 2.9 Donated Blood and its Products (pg
37-38 only)