A whole blood donation takes on average 15 minutes, a plasma only donation from 30 to 60 minutes. A physician or nurse draws blood from the donor who is seated or lying comfortably on a donor couch. An area on the arm is disinfected carefully, the needle is inserted into a vein and the blood is drawn from the donor and collected in a bag, which is positioned below the donor. It is a controlled and safe procedure: all needles and tubes in the collection circuit are sterile and are only used once. There is no risk of contracting any infectious diseases. The donor’s body replaces all the fluids lost in the donation within 24 hours.
Donation may be “occasional” or “periodic”. A periodic donor is a person who goes to a blood transfusion centre more than twice to repeat the donation. The goal of all blood transfusion centres is to have as many periodic donors as possible as they are more controlled and therefore safer for the recipient.
To protect the recipient and monitor the health of the donor, the following tests are performed on each blood unit collected:
To protect the recipient:
- Testing for antibodies to HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)
- HCV (Hepatitis C Virus) antibody detection
- Hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HbsAg=Hepatitis B superficial Antigen) detection
- Serological diagnosis of syphilis
- HCV RNA
- HIV RNA
- HBV DNA
To monitor the donor’s health:
- Creatinine levels
- Blood glucose levels
- Total protein levels
- Serum protein electrophoresis
- Blood count
- Ferritin levels
- ALT
- Cholesterol levels
- Triglyceride levels
If the tests show pathologies or abnormal levels, the Blood Establishment or Donor Association will promptly inform the donor. In any case, test results are usually sent directly to the donor’s home.