pattricia   574 #37 Posted August 21, 2010 I am a blood donor and am also on the Organ Donor list. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Bassman62 Â Â 10 #38 Posted August 21, 2010 After donating blood when I was in the army I received a letter and a card to carry. the letter and card stated that I was 'O' Rhesus Negative which apparently is uncommon. Until then I didn't know that an 'O negative' donor is termed a universal donor as anyone can be given 'O negative' blood. I try my best not to miss a doner session. Â PS I used the card sent to me on the London Underground for a year whilst still in the army apparently it looked like the then current season tickets (naughty boy). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Obelix   11 #39 Posted August 21, 2010 Yes, there is an awful lot of background work!!!!! It doesn't just come out of the arm of the donor and straight into the nearest hospital.......!!!!! If it did, I would be out of a job!!!!!!!!  There's a lot of testing/processing/data entry, normally we can have a unit of blood ready for issue to hospital in 24 hours....  One donor, on receiving his call-up letter, gave the letter to his brother, who went along to donate..... He answered all the questions as if he was the actual donor - Name, Address, Date of Birth etc - the unit was taken.... Back at the centre, on testing the blood group, it was different to that on record, so there was a lot of panic-stricken kerfuffle, thinking "OMG, what's wrong with our testing system?????" until the actual donor was contacted and he confessed all.....!!!!!!!  A day in the life of a Blood Transfusion Scientist!!!!!!! :hihi:  Just out of interest then what's the issue time for platelets as they are onyl good for about five days or something as I recall - I keep getting asked to visit between Christmas and New year to the apho suite.  Also what's the end destination - I know a lot of leukemia patients need platelet donations but is it actually the platelets themseleves or is there more post donation work and separation done? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
CarolW   10 #40 Posted August 21, 2010 Just out of interest then what's the issue time for platelets as they are onyl good for about five days or something as I recall - I keep getting asked to visit between Christmas and New year to the apho suite. Also what's the end destination - I know a lot of leukemia patients need platelet donations but is it actually the platelets themseleves or is there more post donation work and separation done?  Yes, that's right... Platelets have an expiry of 5 days!! It can be extended to 7 days but there's a lot of extra testing for those!!! Because platelets are stored at about 22oC, it's an ideal temperature for some bacteria to grow, which is one reason why the arm-swabbing is thorough - to kill off any skin bacteria that may flourish.....!!  They can be used for leukaemia/cancer patients and also for babies who are born with a very low platelet count.  Platelets are part of the blood clotting mechanism - together with fibrinogen, they form the "plug" to stop bleeding from external and internal leaks.  After apheresis, the platelets are sent to the lab, where they're allowed to "rest" for about 3 hours, after that, they're agitated on a kind of moving tray at 22oC, to stop them clumping together. In the centre where I work, a sample is taken and put on a system which can detect any bacterial growth throughout the shelf life and beyond....  A slightly more gross story.....  One platelet pack developed a large amount of bacteria generally found in faeces.... :gag: On investigation, the donor said he'd been nursing his baby daughter, as she'd had diarrhoea... Then he came to donate and unfortunately, the arm swabbing wasn't quite thorough enough to eradicate the bacteria on his arm, given to him by his baby!!!!! Luckily, that unit never made it to a patient!!!!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
medusa   16 #41 Posted August 21, 2010 I like to think that my bank balance is still in the positive because I gave 25 units before needing 15 back myself during a 12 hour rather messy operation.  To anyone who doesn't give blood (but could) I have to ask one question:  if your partner or your child was in an accident, would you expect the blood to be available to keep them alive if it was needed?  If that doesn't make you at least think about giving blood then you simply don't love your family enough. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
crazy_chick   10 #42 Posted August 21, 2010 Lovely thread, i gave bloods years ago, this has made me start again, i am going to look into finding my nearest centre Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
MonkeyLover   10 #43 Posted August 21, 2010 Aw! thank you, its lovely to be appreciated. Hope you and your baby are recovering now.  I used to give blood years ago, went many, many times. I then stopped going, partly through being a coward, partly because i had got young children and it was too much hassle.  I then made a new friend, who, when she was 18, was involved in a road accident, and, as well as having numerous other injuries, had to have a leg amputated. She of course, needed lots of blood during the operations, so it put me to shame and i started going again, I have now made another 10 or so further donations. I still don't really like it, but i do it because i feel its the right thing to do. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Mecky   10 #44 Posted August 22, 2010 18 Weeks ago I gave birth to a beautiful brave baby girl but during delivery I began to hemorrhage and found myself in the position of needing a blood transfusion. Also since her birth my daughter has needed a transfusion on 5 separate occasions. I just wanted to let all blood donors know that your kindness has saved our lives and that although you don't ever get directly thanked, I will be eternally grateful to you.  I always intended to give some blood myself never thinking for one moment I would one day need it myself.  I am now in the unusual position of feeling the need to give blood myself but not being allowed too for life because of having a transfusion.I feel as though I owe society a debt and don't know how to repay it.  So thankyou to anyone that has ever donated. Everyday as my little girl grows and as I watch her I will never forget the amazing gift you have given us. x  Nice story. I've been donating for about 14 years and I go around every 16 weeks, when I receive the letter. I'm O- which is about 7% of the population so it's vital I go frequently. I think it's important for everyone to go although it can be a bit daunting at first because you might not know what to expect but if you just keep donating it doesn't take long to get used to, I'm usuallt finished in about 5 minutes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Fantasia X Â Â 10 #45 Posted August 22, 2010 The superb staff at the Hallamshire Hospital nursed and helped my Mum in our time of need and helped her pass over with dignity and compassion. I asked what could i possibly do to in some way make some sort of recompense and the Nurse said "give blood". I'm a bronze donor now! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
SatanInHeels   10 #46 Posted August 22, 2010 anyone know if you're told you aren't suitable and that you would be withdrawn from the list... you can try again at a later date? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Bulgarian   10 #47 Posted August 22, 2010 We test for Syphilis, HIV 1 + 2, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HTLV and some other tests on selected donations...... Generally, blood donors tend to be fairly healthy individuals - we do the screening tests as a precaution, not for a diagnosis!!!  If you want a diagnosis, go to your GUM clinic....  Thais not why I asked, I'm questioning why, in this day and age, a gay HIV- person who's been in a monogamous relationship for 10 years is still barred from donating ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
CarolW Â Â 10 #48 Posted August 22, 2010 anyone know if you're told you aren't suitable and that you would be withdrawn from the list... you can try again at a later date? Â It would depend on why that donor isn't suitable... Some criteria lead to being barred permanently, sometimes the guidelines change so that people who couldn't give blood before, are able to now... And sometimes they change so that people who could, can't do so !!! Â I'm asthmatic, years ago, I couldn't donate, now, as long as my asthma is controlled, I can. Â Diabetics and people with high blood pressure are able to donate now, as long as their condition is controlled, whereas before they couldn't.....!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...