Autologous Donation: Donating Blood For Your Own Surgery
Donating blood for your own surgery is called an autologous donation. These blood units are collected and stored until the patient's surgery. They are available only for the patient from whom they were collected. Based upon anticipated blood loss, the patient's doctor determines the number of blood units to be collected. These units can be stored for 35 days, allowing the patient to donate several units of blood during the weeks before surgery. A physician's order is required. Because safety of the patient is always the highest priority, the patient must meet certain health and medical criteria.
Because this is a medical procedure rather than a volunteer blood donation, a patient may donate every few days until the required number of units are collected. Often, the doctor prescribes supplemental iron tablets to bolster the patient's production of new blood cells.
Special handling is required for each autologous unit to insure proper storage and distribution. In addition, each unit is tested for maximum safety.
For further information, contact:
Sue Youngblood, Special Collections Coordinator at:
1-800-392-6551, ext. 1025
(864) 239-2937, ext. 1025 or
syoungblood@thebloodconnection.org
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Directed Donation: Donating Blood for Someone Else's Surgery
A directed donation is one given by a donor chosen by the patient. The blood is used for the patient's transfusion. A physician's order is required. The patient and the attending physician sign this request. Each directed donor is screened and tested in the same manner as volunteer blood donors, and must meet the same qualifications. If the directed donor's blood passes all the appropriate tests and is compatible with the intended recipient, it is then made available for the patient's use. Although all blood components can be "directed", generally directed units are red blood cells and can be used for the patient up to 42 days after collection.
For further information, contact:
Sue Youngblood, Special Collections Coordinator at:
1-(800) 392-6551 Ext. 1025
1-(864) 239-2937 Ext. 1025 or
syoungblood@thebloodconnection.org
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Therapeutic Phlebotomy
What is Therapeutic Phlebotomy?
A therapeutic phlebotomy is a prescribed amount of blood withdrawn for medical reasons.
What diseases are treated with Therapeutic Phlebotomy:
The three most common reasons for phlebotomy are:
- Hemochromatosis - a disorder of the way the body uses iron. The body absorbs too much of the iron found in the foods we eat. This extra iron is stored in the body, mainly in the liver, pancreas and skin, which leads to cirrhosis of the liver, diabetes, enlarged heart with congestive heart failure, irregular heart beat and increased skin pigmentation.
- Polycythemia - an increase in the number of circulating red blood cells and total blood volume.
- Porphyries - metabolic disorders associated with hepatosplenomegaly (enlargement of the spleen and liver), photosensitivity (sensitivity to light), pigmentation and distinct red color in the urine.
How often can therapeutic phlebotomies be performed?
As often as every few days may be needed to improve the symptoms of the blood disorder. Phlebotomies may be scheduled on a regular basis, such as monthly, or as needed in response to the symptoms of the disease after the initial desired results are reached.
What are the requirements for therapeutic phlebotomy?
A written request from a physician including the amount of blood to be withdrawn, the frequency of donation, and the desired hemoglobin level are required. A health history and mini-physical are done, and consent for phlebotomy is given.
Can blood collected from people diagnosed with blood disorders be transfused to patients?
Most cannot, but in 1999 the FDA approved that the blood from people with hereditary hemochromatosis posed no greater risk than blood obtained from volunteer blood donors -provided the patient meets all screening and testing requirements.
Where is therapeutic phlebotomy performed?
The Blood Connection provides therapeutic phlebotomy as a community service at no charge. Service are provided at all three The Blood Connection facilities:
515 Grove Road
Greenville, SC 29605
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1224 Spring Street
Greenwood, SC 29646
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1308 Sandifer Boulevard
Seneca, SC 29672
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To schedule an appointment at the Greenville or Seneca facility call the Special Donations Department at 864-239-2937 Ext. 1025 or 1-800-392-6551. For an appointment in Greenwood call 864-227-8333. A written physician order is required.
For More Information:
American Hemochromatosis Society
Iron Disorders Institute
These links are provided only as a resource for our readers. This listing does not necessarily represent the opinions of The Blood Connection (TBC) or imply endorsement by TBC.
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"BABY DONORS": Donating For Babies
You may have heard someone say "im a baby donor" or "I donate for the babies." What does that mean? It means they are CMV negative - the person has not been exposed to the cytomegalovirus, or CMV. This is important because in low birth weight infants the consequences of such infection may be severe or even fatal.
What is CMV?
CMV (Cytomegalovirus) CMV is a complex flu-like virus that most adults are exposed to at sometime in their lives. It is a double stranded DNA virus belonging to the herpes virus family.
Who gets CMV?
Almost everyone is susceptible to the virus, although males ages 18-26 seem to be the least likely to get it. As with other viruses, once you've had them, your body retains the antibodies.
Why is CMV Negative Blood Preferred for Pediatric Transfusions?
CMV can persist in infected donor white cells and is often transmitted by a blood transfusion, but rarely causes disease. However, in the case of low birth weight infants the consequences of such infection may be severe or even fatal. Because the immune systems in these infants are not fully developed, every precaution must be taken to avoid infection. Scientific studies have shown blood lacking this virus (CMV negative blood) is safer for pediatric patients. Therefore, hospitals prefer to use CMV negative pediatric units to ensure the safety of blood transfusions to newborns.
How is Donor Blood Tested for CMV?
At The Blood Connection, donor blood is tested for the presence of CMV antibodies. If no antibodies are present, the donor is deemed CMV negative, and can be a "baby donor." Donors who have tested negative in the past are re-tested prior to the release of their blood because there is a chance the donor may have been exposed to CMV infection since the last donation.
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