This is what happens to donated blood
This is what they do with the blood received from donors.
People always hear the term ‘donate blood and save lives’.
But where does your blood go once you have donated?
Terrance Pillay, public relations practitioner in the East Rand for the South African National Blood Service (SANBS), gave more insight on the matter.
“Our mission is to provide all patients with sufficient, safe, good quality blood products and medical services related to blood transfusions,” says Pillay.
The blood units are divided into four different sections which are: casualty (which uses 4%), surgical cases (21%), medical cases (27%) and childbirth and gynaecological cases (26%).
The remaining 22% cannot be used due to failing the blood safety test.
When blood is donated, apart from the single unit of blood which is 480ml, three test tubes are also taken which are sent to the head office for more testing.
The blood goes from donor to testing to receiver in a time frame of two days.
Once the blood is declared safe it is immediately available to use on patients.
There has been a massive decline in donations as we entered the new year.
Pillay says their ideal goal is to have five days blood stock that is needed to meet the demand in the country.
This means that the country will still have enough blood for five days if blood donations stop.
At the moment the blood stock is at 1.8 days which is significantly lower than the demand.
To achieve this safe level of blood stock, SANBS needs to collect 3000 units of blood nationally on a daily basis.
This year’s campaign focuses on the SANBS slogan “Your Blood Saves Lives.”
SANBS would like to encourage all donors to donate blood on a regular basis.
