SCREENING OF BLOOD DONORS
Transfusion scientists must be assured that the
process of transfusing blood poses minimal risk to the patient and donor alike.
Aside from the obvious need for blood to be carefully matched to avoid a
possibly fatal transfusion reaction, it is essential that donors are carefully
screened to avoid those who are ill or who may be harmed by giving blood, or
whose blood poses a health risk because, for example, it is contaminated with
certain viruses even though the donor shows no signs of ill health.
In the UK, blood is taken from healthy donors aged between 17 and
70 and is a voluntary and unpaid activity. Potential donors who are excluded
from donation include individuals with HIV or hepatitis viral infections, as
well as individuals who are at risk of becoming HIV and/or hepatitis virus
positive, for example prostitutes, drug abusers who inject themselves with
drugs, and individuals who have had sex with men or women living in Africa (Table 6.10). In addition, people with
low hemoglobin levels (below 135 g dm–3 and 125 g dm–3
for men and women respectively), those who have had infectious dis-eases such
as a cold or sore throat within the last seven days or viral infections such as
measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, shingles or herpes simplex cold sores
within the last three weeks. Other reasons for exclusion include the recent use
of therapeutic drugs, for example aspirin, antibiotics, antihista-mines and
antidepressants.
All donated blood is screened for a variety of infectious agent
as shown in Table 6.11. Some tests
are mandatory while others are optional. Optional testssuch as those for
cytomegalovirus (CMV) are used when the blood is to be transfused
into immunocompromized individuals.
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