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 Medical Encyclopedia
• Exchange transfusion Medical Encyclopedia
• Hemolytic transfusion reaction Medical Encyclopedia

Start Here

• About Blood Donation Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies
• Blood Donation Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Blood Donation FAQs America’s Blood Centers
• Blood Donation Process American Red Cross
• Blood Transfusion Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Have You Given Blood Lately? Food and Drug Administration
• Treatments for Blood Disorders National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Find an Expert

• American Red Cross American Red Cross
• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
• Where to Donate Blood Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies

Patient Handouts

• Blood donation before surgery Medical Encyclopedia
• Blood transfusions Medical Encyclopedia

Statistics and Research

• Blood Facts and Statistics American Red Cross

Specifics

• Blood Transfusion Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
• Exchange transfusion – series — Procedure Medical Encyclopedia
• Kinds of Blood Product Transfusions American Cancer Society
• Platelets: What Is Their Function and Why Are They Important Cleveland Clinic Foundation

Teenagers

• Blood Transfusions (For Teens) Nemours Foundation

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Blood Donors 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

Related Issues

• Diversity in Blood Types American Red Cross
• Facts About Blood and Blood Types American Red Cross
• How You Can Help Medical Research: Donating Your Blood, Tissue, and Other Samples National Cancer Institute
• Precautions and Adverse Reactions during Blood Transfusion Merck & Co., Inc.

Prevention and Risk Factors

• Eligibility Requirements American Red Cross
• Questions about Blood Food and Drug Administration

Journal Articles

• Blood transfusion

Diagnosis and Tests

• Red Blood Cell Antibody Screen National Library of Medicine

Videos and Tutorials

• Testing Your Blood College of American Pathologists