Blood Donation Screening and Safety

The entire blood donation system would be ineffective and risky without stringent donor screening, safety protocols, and rigorous testing that is conducted.  Donor Screening One of the first steps that every potential blood donor goes through, every single donation, is the registration and screening process. The standardized donor screening form is fairly lengthy, and covers a range of topics, such…

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Is Donating Blood Risky?

One thing that stops some people from being willing to give blood is fear. Today, donating blood is very safe. Sterile, disposable equipment is used for each donor, so there is no risk of getting a bloodborne infection by donating blood. To better understand the donation process and allay those fears, let’s address the minimal risks involved.  Frequent Concerns Don’t…

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What are the potential side effects of blood transfusion in an elderly patient?

Blood transfusions can have the possible side effects below in older adults, especially those with underlying health conditions. Allergic reactions An allergic reaction after a blood transfusion can occur in any patient, including elderly patients. Symptoms of an allergic reaction can be diagnosed with hives. Those hives can range from mild to life-threatening anaphylaxis (a severe, whole-body reaction). Transfusion-related acute…

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