Blood Transfusion and Donation Summary Every year, millions of people in the United States receive life-saving blood transfusions. During a transfusion, you receive whole blood or parts of blood such as Red blood cells – cells that carry oxygen to and from tissues and organs Platelets – cells that form clots to control bleeding Plasma – the liquid part of the blood that helps clotting. You may need it if you have been badly burned, have liver failure or a severe infection. Most blood transfusions go very smoothly. Some infectious agents, such as HIV, can survive in blood and infect the person receiving the blood transfusion. To keep blood safe, blood banks carefully screen donated blood. The risk of catching a virus from a blood transfusion is low. Sometimes it is possible to have a transfusion of your own blood. During surgery, you may need a blood transfusion because of blood loss. If you are having a surgery that you’re able to schedule months in advance, your doctor may ask whether you would like to use your own blood, instead of donated blood. If so, you will need to have blood drawn one or more times before the surgery. A blood bank will store your blood for your use. NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Encyclopedia ABO incompatibility Exchange transfusion Transfusion reaction – hemolytic Related Issues Alternatives to Blood Transfusion American Cancer Society American Trypanosomiasis (Also Known as Chagas Disease) Blood Screening FAQs Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Blood and Diversity American Red Cross Blood Types American Red Cross How You Can Help Medical Research: Donating Your Blood, Tissue, and Other Samples National Cancer Institute Possible Risks of Blood Transfusions American Cancer Society Precautions and Adverse Reactions during Blood Transfusion Merck & Co., Inc. What Are the Risks of a Blood Transfusion? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute What Happens to Donated Blood? American Red Cross Why People with Cancer Might Need Blood Transfusions American Cancer Society Find an Expert American Red Cross American Red Cross National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Specifics Blood and Bone Marrow Donation Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Blood Frequently Asked Questions AABB Blood Transfusion Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Platelet Donation (Apheresis) American Red Cross Special Blood Donation Procedures Merck & Co., Inc. Types of Blood Donations America’s Blood Centers Types of Blood Donations American Red Cross Types of Blood Transfusions National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Start Here Blood Donation Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Blood Donation and Transfusion (Beyond the Basics) UpToDate Blood Donation Process American Red Cross Blood Donation Process AABB Blood Transfusion Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Have You Given Blood Lately? Food and Drug Administration What Is a Blood Transfusion? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Array Blood donation before surgery Blood transfusions Exchange transfusion – slideshow Statistics and Research Blood Facts and Statistics American Red Cross Facts and Figures America’s Blood Centers Children Blood Transfusion (For Parents) Nemours Foundation Truth about Transfusions Nemours Foundation Teenagers Blood Transfusions (For Teens) Nemours Foundation Donating Blood Nemours Foundation Games Blood Type Game American Red Cross Donor Tag Game American Red Cross Diagnosis and Tests Blood Typing American Association for Clinical Chemistry Direct Antiglobulin Test American Association for Clinical Chemistry RBC Antibody Screen American Association for Clinical Chemistry Red Blood Cell Antibody Identification American Association for Clinical Chemistry Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Blood Donors National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Blood Safety National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Blood Substitutes and Alternatives National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Blood Transfusion National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Transfusion Reaction National Institutes of Health Prevention and Risk Factors Donating Blood Questions and Answers Food and Drug Administration Eligibility Requirements American Red Cross Journal Articles Blood transfusion Blood types Reference Desk What Is Blood? America’s Blood Centers Latest News FDA Approves Experimental Zika Test for Blood Donations HealthDay
