Where Your Donation Goes
The Blood Bank is situated in a spacious area with all facilities for collection from the donors, testing, componenting and storage facilities. It supports cardiac surgery, neurosurgery and the intensive care units of the Institute, as well as Sri Sathya Sai General Hospital.
If you are willing to donate on short notice in emergencies, do inform the Blood Bank, so that they can contact you when the need arises. The same applies if you have a rare blood group — let the Blood Bank know of your interest to donate.
Tested, Grouped, Separated, Matched
At SSSIHMS, fully automated ELISA processors are used for conducting the HIV and hepatitis tests. The blood is grouped and stored either as whole blood or as components like packed red blood cells, plasma, platelets or cryoprecipitate. This is then issued to the patient after checking for compatibility with the patient’s blood. The Column Agglutination Technique is used at the SSSIHMS blood bank to test the compatibility of the donor’s blood with the patient’s.
Separating blood into components helps the patient, as only that component which is therapeutically indicated is transfused. In short, it is a method to optimise blood utilisation — and the donor gets the satisfaction of being able to help more than one patient. The separation is done in a closed system using a temperature-regulated centrifuge and a plasma expressor under a laminar flow.
What Donation Actually Involves
Plasma, Cells and Platelets
Blood supplies to every cell of the body oxygen and nutrients, and carries away the waste products. It also plays a central role in the body’s defence mechanism and is an indicator of a person’s health condition. Blood is pumped by the heart through a network of miles of blood vessels to every part of the body. It moves at a speed of about a foot per second, completing a circulation in about twenty seconds.
Blood is composed of a clear yellow fluid, the plasma, and other elements: red blood cells (erythrocytes), which carry oxygen; white blood cells (leukocytes), which fight infection; and platelets (thrombocytes), which stop bleeding — along with proteins, electrolytes, hormones and glucose. The erythrocytes, leukocytes and platelets are described as the formed elements of the blood; together they compose about 50% of its total volume.
Blood is produced in the bone marrow. In adults, the spine, ribs and pelvis are the primary bones that make blood. Red blood cells last about 120 days in the bloodstream, platelets about ten days, and the various kinds of white blood cells from days to years — so when we donate, we are in fact donating cells that would die in any case, and which can be life-saving for someone else.
ABO and the Rh Factor
The most common type of grouping is the ABO grouping. Red blood cells have a protein coat (called antigens) on their surface, which distinguishes them. According to this, blood is divided into four groups: A (A antigen present), B (B antigen present), AB (both A and B antigens present) and O (no antigens present). There are subtypes under this grouping — listed as A1, A2, A1B, A2B and so on — some of which are quite rare.
Apart from this, another protein plays an important part in the grouping of blood: the Rh factor. If it is present, the blood type is called positive; if absent, negative. This gives the eight broad categories — A positive and negative, B positive and negative, AB positive and negative, and O positive and negative.
What Donated Blood Is Used For
Who Should Not Donate Blood
Reasons People Give for Not Donating
I am scared of needles / afraid to give blood
Nearly everyone feels that way in the beginning. However, most donors will tell you that you feel only a slight initial pinch, and seven to ten minutes later you are heading towards the refreshment room.
I am too busy
The entire process takes about half an hour, and the actual bleeding time is about six to eight minutes.
No one ever asked me — I am not sure my blood is needed
Consider yourself asked. There is no other way to supply the blood needs of hospital patients but through the generous donations of people like you.
I already gave this year
Men can safely donate every three months and women every four months.
I will get infected; I can get AIDS
A new sterile needle and bag are used for each donation, and the needle is discarded immediately afterwards. There is no way you could get infected during donation.
My blood isn’t the right type
Every type of blood is needed. If your group is common, there are many patients who need it; if it is rare, there are fewer donors available, so it is in short supply.
I don’t have blood to spare and I’ll feel weak later
Only about 7% of the body’s five to six litres is collected at each donation. In volume, it is replaced within a few hours, and normal daily activities can be continued.
I am too old or not fit to donate
If you have any doubts, check with your physician or the staff of the Blood Bank. A great many medical conditions do not prevent you from donating blood, or do so only temporarily.
Practical Points for Donors
To Donate, or to Be Called in an Emergency
Contact the Blood Bank at the Department of Laboratory Medicine, SSSIHMS Whitefield, particularly if you have a rare blood group or are willing to donate on short notice.
Blood Donation in Detail
Eligibility for Donating Blood
A few basic health conditions have to be met by donors. A donor should:
- Be between 18 and 65 years of age.
- Have a hemoglobin level greater than 12.5 g/dl.
- Weigh more than 45 kg.
- Have normal body temperature at the time of donation (98.4°F).
- Have normal blood pressure at the time of donation. This would mean one should not do any vigorous exercise just prior to donation.
- Be free of any disease at the time of donation.
- Have had a meal or snack within the 3–4 hours prior to donation.
More details about eligibility are available on the Blood Donor form, which will be filled in before donation.
The minimum time advised between two donations is 3 months for gents and 4 months for ladies. This gap is sufficient for the donor to regain the normal hemoglobin level.
Will I Feel Giddy After Donation?
Unlikely. The feeling of giddiness is more psychological than physiological. There is no need to be anxious about blood donation. It is safe, easy and painless.
Why Donate at the SSSIHMS Blood Bank?
It is common knowledge that, at most times, patients are told to find their own donors and arrange for blood for their surgery.
The blood bank at SSSIHMS provides blood free of cost to all its patients (in fact there is no charge for the entire patient treatment). Most other hospitals charge the patients for the blood even though you donate voluntarily.
A majority of SSSIHMS patients (around 80%) come from outside Bangalore. They do not have their relatives or friends nearby to help them in this ‘foreign’ land. You could be a good host to these needy guests by providing for this very important requirement.
And be sure — SSSIHMS maintains strict quality control in its blood collection and testing methods.
Blood donation is one of the best forms of philanthropy — this is not a commodity that is available for purchase. Only one person can give to another and there is no substitute for it.
The Blood Donation Process
Donating blood is safe and simple.
- A few questions will be asked to determine your health status (general questions on health, donation history etc.). Usually you will be asked to fill out a short form.
- A quick physical check will be done of certain physical parameters, like blood pressure and pulse, to ensure you are a healthy donor.
- If found fit to donate, you will be asked to lie down on a couch or a bed. The collection site on your arm will be cleaned. Then, using sterile equipment, blood will be collected in a special plastic bag. Approximately 350 ml of blood will be collected in one donation. Those who weigh more than 60 kg can donate 450 ml of blood.
- Then you must rest and relax for a few minutes with a light snack and something refreshing to drink. Some snacks and juice will be provided.
- Blood will be separated into components within 4 to 6 hours of donation.
- The blood will then be taken to the laboratory for testing.
- Once found safe, it will be kept in special storage and released when required.
After Donation: Do’s and Don’ts
- Enjoy light refreshments and rest for at least 10–15 minutes.
- Do not leave the donation site without the permission of a staff member.
- If you feel dizzy or faint, lie down and, if possible, elevate your legs.
- Do not smoke for at least one hour (better not to smoke for the entire lifetime).
- Drink more than the usual amount of fluids — water, fruit juice, buttermilk, milk, etc.
- Avoid alcohol intake for the next 24 hours (better to avoid it for the entire lifetime).
- Leave the gauze or band-aid on for 4–6 hours and do not get it wet — it is your band of honour!
- If you have any problem, please do not hesitate to call and talk to us at 080-28004715.