Donors and Blood Collection

Question 1

What is the shelf life of blood

Answer 1

35 days

Question 2

What percentage of people need a transfusion in their lifetime?

Answer 2

1 in 4 will need a transfusion

Question 3

How many donations does the IBTS need a year?

Answer 3

150,000

Question 4

Where can you donate blood in Ireland?
(2)

Answer 4

Dublin of d’Olier Street (blood) and IBTS (platelets), Bloodmobile

Ardee, Carlow, Cork, Limerick, Tuam

Question 5

How many patients need a blood transfusion a year?

Answer 5

70,000

Question 6

How many donations are needed a week?

Answer 6

3,000

Question 7

How many people are currently active donors?

Answer 7

1 in 450 members

Question 8

Do we pay our donors?

Answer 8

Not in Ireland except for plasma donors

Otherwise it’s volunteers

Question 9

How do we maintain adequate blood donations
(2)

Answer 9

This relies on the promotion of the concept of donation using the public

To combat negative publicity and reduced donor numbers is a major task now for many Transfusion Services

Question 10

Why don’t we use our own plasma in Ireland

Answer 10

Due to variant CJD
We don’t have a test to detect this
We are starting to use our own plasma now for those undergoing cornea transplant as its been 20 years since CJD

Question 11

What do we do with our plasma if we don’t use it?

Answer 11

It’s donated for research purposes

Question 12

Where do we get out plasma

Answer 12

We buy it in -> Octoplas

Question 13

What is aphoresis

Answer 13

Patient donates their platelets but the red cells and plasma are given pack

Question 14

What is pooled platelets

Answer 14

Four buffy coats of same ABO blood group pooled together

Question 15

What are the different types of donor?
(6)

Answer 15

Homologous donation: volunteer
Paid
Autologous donation
Direct donor
Apheresis
Therapeutic
Replacement

Question 16

What is a homologous donation?
(3)

Answer 16

A volunteer donating a single unit for the benefit of others

Most common type of blood donation

Donated blood is for general use -> not reserved for any individual patient

Question 17

How often can you donate blood?

Answer 17

Every 90 days

Question 18

What is meant by paid donors?

Answer 18

Usually paid by Commercial Companies - donors are paid in America usually in vouchers etc

Question 19

What is an autologous donation?
(4)

Answer 19

Donor who is also the proposed recipient

A patient can be transfused with his or her own blood

Collected and stored in advance of a planned operation

i.e. hip replacement, plastic surgery etc

Question 20

What is a direct donor?
(5)

Answer 20

Donation whereby a friend or family is nominated

Blood provided by a patient’s relatives or friends

Does not reduce the risk of viral transmission

Can be less safe than Homologous Donation

e.g. Transfuse mother’s platelets to her baby

Question 21

What is an apheresis donor?
(4)

Answer 21

The provision of large amount of a specific component of blood

Blood is drawn from donor into centrifuge

Separates blood - red cells, platelets, white cells, plasma

The required component - platelets, white cells, plasma are then drawn into a collection bag

Question 22

How often can you donate platelets

Answer 22

Plateletpheresis donors can donate platelets every 28 days

Question 23

What is a therapeutic donation?

Answer 23

Whereby a haemochromatosis patient requires a transfusion to remove excess iron

Question 24

What is replacement donation?

Answer 24

Developing world where there is no structure blood donation and supple system of blood banks

Patients bring family members friends, village people to donate them

Question 25

What are the nine main motivations for donor

Answer 25

Altruism Peer Pressure -a feature of collections based in, or publicised through, work or college Enlightened self-interest -> possible future need Family tradition Personal or professional experience of transfusion -> have needed a transfusion before or work Rare blood group of neonatal use Non-monetary gifts -> lapel badges, recognition of landmark donations Patriotism Opportunity for medical testing - some centres offer extra tests e.g. cholesterol testing Replacement for a family member in developing countries

Question 26

How does the IBTS recruit donors? (6)

Answer 26

Increased public awareness via TV/Radio, posters, Facebook etc Direct marketing -> targeting pre-selected potential donors School curricula - instill awareness in children Establish a readily identified national identify - logos, emblems, slogans Local community volunteers - organise clinics and advertising Donor recruitment/retention initiatives -> GAA Partnership, Garda cycle, Haemochromatosis

Question 27

Write about the GAA Donor Recruitment (5)

Answer 27

Partnership between the GAA and the Irish Blood Transfusion Service To inform and educate To encourage and support To make it convenient for GAA members and supporters to give blood through interaction and promotion at local GAA club level

Question 28

Why do donors drop out from being donors? (9)

Answer 28

Lack of time and communication Unfavourable location or time of the blood donation Unhappy past experience Bad handling by the blood bank personnel Donor reactions at the time of blood donation Non-availability of blood in time of his/her need Failure to appreciate the efforts of blood donors Impression that blood is being mis-utilised Deferal the last time they went

Question 29

How do we retain donors? (5)

Answer 29

No unnecessary deferals and a welcome back for temporary deferrals Improved administrative factors -> convenient premises, clinic times, queue management, pleasant premises Well trained, caring staff Appropriate post donation care Planned follow up encouraging further donations, tests, letter etc

Question 30

What are the two aims behind donor selection

Answer 30

Protect the donor Protect the recipient

Question 31

How do we determine if someone is safe to donate? (2)

Answer 31

A questionnaire with a limited physical and medical examination Criteria should be evidence based, relevant to the local population and regularly reviewed

Question 32

What are some criteria for selection? (6)

Answer 32

Aged 18 to 65/70 normally Can donate up to 4 times a year Donate approximately 450ml into 63ml of anticoagulant Need to weight at least 50kg Haemoglobin levels need to be normal Blood pressure needs to be normal

Question 33

What is normal haemoglobin for women?

Answer 33

12.5 g/dl

Question 34

What is normal haemoglobin for men

Answer 34

13.5 g/dl

Question 35

What is normal blood pressure

Answer 35

180mmHg/100mmHg

Question 36

What would permanently exclude you from donating? (5)

Answer 36

High risk behaviours Chronic infections e.g. HIV, HBV, Brucellosis Possible hepatitis A Risk of CJD - recipients of human pituitary hormones, dura matter grafts Other diseases of unknown or viral aetiology

Question 37

What would temporarily exclude/defer a donor (7)

Answer 37

Sexual contacts of high risk partners Ear or body piercing Tattoo, accupuncture Blood transfusion Vaccination Foreign Travel to malaria endemic areas Pregnancy

Question 38

What are some key things to remember post donation? (6)

Answer 38

Suitably qualified staff, using validated written instructions or SOP's is a must 'Slow' donations not used to prepare platelets Donor rest/refreshments necessary Advice on 'potentially hazardous' activities post donation Faints more common among first time donors Donors should be informed about, encouraged to report, adverse reactions

Question 39

What is some aftercare information after donating? (9)

Answer 39

Rest for 10 minutes and enjoy some light refreshments Drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluid after leaving the clinic Avoid smoking for at least one hour Do not have a hot bath or shower Leave your dressing in place for 24 hours Avoid lifting and strenuous exercise for the rest of the day Avoid standing for long periods in poorly ventilated areas If you feel light-headed, lie down immediately and rest and drink plenty of cold fluids to recover Should bleeding occur, raise your arm, apply pressure for at least 5 minutes and replace dressing

Question 40

What testing is done on blood donations (7)

Answer 40

ABO and RhD groups - occasionally other blood groups Test for unexpected blood group antibodies Hepatitis B - HbsAg antigen Humman immunodeficiency virus - HIV 1 and 2 - test for antibody HTLV 1 and 2 - antibodies Hepatitis C - HCV virus - test for antibody Syphilis - test for antibody to the agent responsible - Treponema pallidum

Question 41

What further testing will be done on blood donations (4)

Answer 41

Malaria - tests for antibody Cytomegalovirus (CMV) - Can cause infection in an immunosuppressed patient, supply with blood from CMV antibody negative donors. Achieved by leucodepletion HTLV 1 and 2 NAT Nucleic acid testing for HIV1/2 and HCV Hep B and Hep E virus

Question 42

What are some benefits of leucodepletion

Answer 42

Reduced risk of vCJD transmission by blood Other benefits - less febrile reactions, less (TRALI) Less alloimmunisation Less GVHD Reduce immunosuppressive effects (TRIM)