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What is blood compatibility chart?
Ans. It shows the relation between donor blood group
and recipient blood group. For this please refer blood
compatibility chart.
Why should I voluntarily donate blood?
Ans. Human blood is produced only by the human
body and cannot be synthesized. Blood requirements of
patients who have blood loss due to major accidents or
diseases or due to surgery can only be met by blood donation.
Hence it is the duty of each of us to donate blood and
help each other in our times of need.
What are the benefits of blood donation to me?
Ans. Every time you donate a unit of blood at a blood
bank, which is a member of the association of Voluntary
Blood Banks, you will receive a certificate and a Blood
Donation Card. This card can be used by you to get blood
from the registered blood bank when you have a need. Also,
every time you donate blood, screening tests are done on
the blood for jaundice, hepatitis, AIDS etc. Hence, you
are able to get screened for these communicable diseases
free of charge. And, of course, most important of all, every
time you donate blood you get the satisfaction of helping
a fellow human being in his/her time of need. You will be
donating a little of your blood to save someone's life.
At what intervals can I donate blood?
Ans. You can safely donate blood at intervals of
eight weeks.
Will blood donation cause harm to my health?
Ans. Blood donation does not cause any ill effects
on the human body and is 100% safe. To understand this let
us go a little into body physiology. The total amount of
blood circulating in our body's cardiovascular system is
about 5 liters. Of this amount, only about 350 ml. is bled
from the body during blood donation. The human body replenishes
this amount of blood donated within about 48 to 72 hours
of donation. Thus there is no harmful effect to health due
to blood donation.
Can I get communicable diseases by donating blood?
Ans. No. There is no possibility of getting communicable
diseases by donating blood as the blood collecting set and
needles used are sterile and also disposable, i.e. they
are destroyed after single use.
When should I not donate blood?
Ans. You should not donate blood if you are below
18 years or above 60 years of age and weigh below 40kgs.
You are not supposed to donate blood if you are suffering
from any of the following conditions:
Permanently, from
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Tuberculosis
• Kidney disease
• HIV/AIDS
• Serum Hepatitis (Australia Antigen Positive)
• Or prone to vasovagal attacks.
Temporarily, if you
• Have fever
• Have anemia
• Are on some medication
• Are pregnant/lactating/menstruating
• Had taken any vaccination in last 6 weeks
• Had suffered from malaria/typhoid in last 1 year
• Had jaundice other than serum hepatitis in last
3 years.
Why should we donate blood?
Ans. Blood donation gives, a proud feeling of touching
someone’s life in such a beautiful way. Its an experience
that no words can define. You have to donate blood yourself
to find out. By keeping the blood line flowing, you will
greatly contribute towards a healthier, happier society.
Do remember, any one may require blood any time. Including
ourselves and our dear ones. You also benefit in other ways
by donating blood. It reduces the chances of ischemic heart
diseases (beginning of heart problems) as frequent donations
reduce the accumulated and unwanted iron load from the body.
Any side effects of Blood donations?
Ans. No ! Not really. Do ask any regular blood donor
about it. A small percentage of first time donors may psychologically
feel a little dizzy but only for a few minutes. Staff at
the blood bank will ensure that your first blood donation
is a happy experience. We are sure this will make you a
regular blood donor. In fact there are many people who have
donated more than 100 times in their life time.
Can I get any disease like AIDS or Hepatitis or any other
disease by Blood donation?
Ans. That is impossible. Only sterile disposables
are used to collect your blood. These disposables can be
used only one time. This totally eliminates any remote chance
of catching any disease from blood donation.
How much Blood can I donate?
Ans. Eligible donors (any body between 18 to 60 years
of age and leading a healthy life) with weight above 50
kgs. can donate up to 450 ml of blood. Your body can replenish
this volume within 24 hours.
How frequently can I donate Blood?
Ans. Males - Every 3 Months, Females - Every 4 Months.
Why should I become a regular blood donor?
Ans. As you know, blood is a life saving medicine,
which works wonders in certain medical treatments, and life
threatening situations. It is an emergency medicine. Our
society is today threatened by scarcity of blood. The only
source of blood right now is human being.
This issue has got further complexes by professional donors,
who donate blood for money. These donors have contributed
towards rapid spread of killer diseases like AIDS, Hepatitis
B & Hepatitis C in the society. WHO strongly recommends
the source of blood as only from a regular voluntary blood
donor. Your regular donation will go a long way in salvaging
the situation.
What should I eat before blood-donation?
Ans. Anything, but preferably something. Eating light
snacks and a drink (nonalcoholic) before blood donation
makes you psychologically more comfortable. Drink some liquid
like tea, cold drink, juice, etc. to replenish fluid and
eat some snacks. All this will be available for you at the
blood bank.
What exactly happens during blood-donation?
Ans. Giving blood is a very simple and straight forward
process. On arrival at a blood bank, you will be asked to
fill a few details on a donor form. Your medical history
will be taken by a medical personnel in an area which provides
adequate privacy. Blood Banks routinely take a small drop
of blood to ensure that you aren't anemic. After you pass
this simple medical screening process, you will be escorted
to a blood donation area. The actual blood donation takes
about 10 minutes followed by a little rest and refreshments.
What does a blood bank do?
Ans. It collects blood, processes it in its components,
tests for any possible disease, stores blood components
at optimum temperature and gives these to the needy patients
after cross matching.
Why blood components?
Ans. In modern medicine there is no room for whole
blood. Developed countries have switched over to blood components
for more than 20 years. Unfortunately in India still 95%
of the blood is used as whole blood. By making blood components,
all the useful parts of blood can be used. In whole blood,
platelets die and clotting factors become ineffective and
the patient receives unwanted and ineffective components.
What all things you test my blood for?
Ans. Each and every unit of blood is tested for HIV
Virus (AIDS), Hepatitis B & C virus (Jaundice) Malaria
Parasite, Syphilis and also blood groups.
Post Donation Care
- Eat and Drinks something before leaving
- Drink more liquids than usual in next 4 hours
- Avoid consuming alcohol until you have eating something
- Don't smoke for next 30 minutes
- Avoid climbing steps for next 30 minutes
- If there is bleeding from the phlebotomy site, raise
the arm and apply pressure
- If fainting or dizziness occurs, either lie down or
site with the head between the knees
- Resume all normal activities if no symptoms occur
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