Blood donation

• Hematologie
• HBO
• Studiejaar 1

Blood transfusion and donation

Victor Bouwman

Fellow hematology UMCG

Blood, what is it?

Which blood products are available for transfusion?

1. Red blood cells
2. White blood cells
3. Platelets
4. Plasma

Different types of blood cells

Lifespan:

- red bloodcel: ~ 120 days

- platelet: ~ 10 dagen
- white blood cells: hours to months

Different types of blood cells

Lifespan:

- red bloodcel: ~ 120 days

- platelet: ~ 10 days

- white blood cells: hours to months:

Lifespan:

- red bloodcel: ~ 120 days

- platelet: ~ 10 dagen
- white blood cells: hours to months

When do you get a blood transfusion?

Indications for red blood cells 

('packed cells')

• Blood loss
  - bleeding (gastrointestinal, trauma, ruptured aorta, child-birth)
  - surgery

• Not enough production
  - hematological disease (thalassemia, sickle cell disease, aplastic anemia, leukemia, myelofibrosis) 
  - chemo therapy (and stem cell transplantation)
  - severe inflammation/infections
  - renal failure 

Indications platelet and plasma transfusion

• Platelets
  - massive bleeding
  - hematological diseases
  - chemotherapy & stem cell transplantation
• Plasma
  - massive bleeding / coagulation disorders
  - plasma exchange (vasculitis, TTP)
  - 'covid-19 plasma' 

Is a blood transfusion risk free?

1. Yes
2. No

Potential risks

How many different blood groups are there?

1. 2
2. 4
3. 12
4. >40

Blood groups & types

• AB0 (Major blood group)
• Rhesus
• 41 others ( Duffy, Kell, Kidd)
  
  
• Transfusion reactions due to antibodies

The Netherlands:

Blood donation in the Netherlands

• 400.000 active blood donors
• 100.000 patients a year, for a total of 724.000 transfusions
  
• Many safety checks
  - actual Hb donor (safe?)
  - viruses (oa HIV, hepatitis, parvo-B19)
  - syphilis
  - blood 'cultures' (bacteria?)