1. What are the different blood groups ?
There are four identification blood (land Steiner1900). They are A, B, AB, O. In 1940, Karl Land Steiner discovered the Rh (Rhesus) blood group system. If RH factor is present, then the blood is designated as ‘+’ otherwise ‘-‘ . For e.g. ‘O+’ ( O group with RH factor) or ‘O-‘ (O Group without Rh). All -ve groups are rare. Among them AB is much more rare.
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2. What is synthetic blood ? Is it available?
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Synthetic blood is not available yet. But various intravenous infusions are there to compensate fluid loss, but cannot supply RBCs, WBCs, and platelets.
3. What are the main functions of blood ?
Blood is valuable to mankind because without which life can’t exist. The demand for blood has always been high for various reasons but the ready availability of safe blood at critical moments is a big problem. This has necessitated a system where in blood can be received from donors, tested, and stored category wise so that is can be delivered at the right moment. Transfusion medicines has gained impotence because most hospitals now have their own blood banks. Modern medical practice demands use of ‘safe’ blood for faster recovery in post-operative patients. Therefore, blood banks grouping, cross matching and detection for achieving the goal of safe blood transfusion.
4. What is a blood bank ?
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A blood bank receives blood, carries a strings of tests, stores it and gives it to the needy patients. One has to deposit blood in a bank to get it back when it is necessary. Free supply of blood is not possible without adequate deposit.
5. Is there any time interval for donating blood ?
Frequently blood donation is not advisable. After 3 to 4 months of previous donation, the person can again donate blood. It is better to check hemoglobin content before donating blood frequently. Frequent donating is usually common among rare blood group donors.
6. What precautions are to be taken while donating blood ?
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Every blood bank follows it own norms and regulations to select donors. In general, following guidelines are to be followed:
- Only adults (age 18 to 30) can donate blood
- In women, blood should not be drawn during pregnancy.
- Donors should not be underweight or undernourished.
- They shouldn’t not have suffered from cardiac disease, hypertension or anemia.
- If the donor has infection like syphilis, malaria, AIDS or hepatitis B, then he/she is not eligible to donate blood.
- Blood should not be drawn for at least 3 to 4 months if the donor had any vaccination or undergone treatment for rabies.
- It is better to consult a transfusion medicine expert before donating blood.
7. For how long can blood be stored ?
Blood can be stored upto 10 to 20 days. But for best results only fresh blood should be administered.
8. If a person donates blood to a blood bank, will the donor get it back in case of emergency ?
Blood can be stored for a short-time. It should also be used within a prescribed time. A donor will get priority provided the individual provides the necessary donation documents. It is not possible to get the same blood that one donates.