The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) is always in need of willing donors to keep the available levels of blood above what the country might need at any time.
However, for many, Covid-19 has raised myriad questions about the safety of giving and receiving of blood.
According to information released by SANBS, with the necessary precautions in place, it is safe to donate blood during the Covid-19 epidemic in order to continue to meet the demand for blood from patients.
Patients depend on these lifesaving donations.
The organisation encourages people to visit their nearest blood donor centre regularly to meet the constant need for blood.
Every day blood products are needed for patients undergoing surgery, cancer treatments, and to save lives following traumas such as motor vehicle accidents.
Blood, platelet and plasma donation Q&A
1. Can people without an appointment go to a donor centre and donate blood?
SANBS is encouraging regular donors to make appointments to donate blood in order to manage the number of donors in their centres at any given time to maintain appropriate social distancing.
“We do appreciate that first time donors and regular donors may come to our donor centres without an appointment.
“Our staff will continue to accept these donors, provided they pass the donor assessment screening and the donor centre is not too busy.
“If the donor centre is busy, these donors will be asked to make an appointment to donate at a later time or date,” SANBS’ statement says.
You can contact SANBS on 0800 11 90 31 (or your nearest donor centre) to make an appointment.
2. What enhanced measures are being taken to protect donors, employees and volunteers at donor centres?
SANBS’ protocols for assessing donors and cleaning donor centres have always been extremely robust.
Respiratory infections are common and SANBS is always prepared to deal with them.
“However, as information about Covid-19 quickly evolves, we are taking additional measures to enhance our protocols to better protect anyone who comes through our doors,” they say.
2.1. Enhanced cleaning measures
SANBS is adhering to the guidance of subject matter experts, and has increased the frequency of cleaning within donor centres.
“Notably, we have enhanced our protocols for high-traffic areas and resources, including donor beds, which will now be wiped down before and after each use.
“Additionally, we continue to ensure that the products we use effectively kill viruses on a variety of surfaces.”
2.2. Additional wellness protocols
Donors, employees and volunteers will be thoroughly screened before entering SANBS buildings.
Donors will be deferred and employees will be asked not to enter the building if they have any flu-like symptoms.
“As an additional precaution, healthy individuals who enter our donor centres will be immediately asked to sanitise their hands.
“They will also be reminded to avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth and avoid close contact with others as far as possible,” says the SANBS.
2.3. Additional cleaning and safety measures include:
• Enhanced frequency of cleaning of all equipment and surfaces.
• Active wellness screening before individuals enter the building and at their first point of contact when they enter.
• When on donation beds, donors will be at least 2m apart.
• When sitting on a waiting chair, donors will be at least 2m apart.
3. Are staff, donors and volunteers required to wear masks or other personal protective equipment at your donor centres?
Yes. The SANBS has determined that personal protective equipment should be worn at all times by our staff.
Those with flu-like symptoms will be asked to contact their physician and will not be allowed to donate blood.
4. Is Covid-19 transmissible by blood or blood products?
Current evidence and risk modelling suggest that Covid-19 is most likely not transmissible through blood and blood products.
This includes plasma protein products, which are pharmaceutical therapies made from plasma – a component of blood.
“Nonetheless, SANBS has strict measures in place to ensure the continued safety of our products and services related to blood, plasma, stem cells, and organs and tissues, and to address the health of our donors.”
In addition, manufacturers of plasma protein products routinely use added safety steps in their manufacturing process that inactivate or remove viruses.
5. Are there changes to donor screening and eligibility requirements?
Yes, in response to the pandemic, SANBS is updating its eligibility requirements for donors.
These criteria are consistent with public health quarantine guidelines.
“We are continuously monitoring the situation and will adjust quickly as needed.”
6. Are you testing for Covid-19?
No.
7. What is the deferral period for donors who have had occupational or community exposure to a possible case?
Anyone who has been asked to place themselves under observation or quarantine by public health authorities will be deferred for 28 days from the date of their last contact with a case or suspected case of Covid-19.
8. What is the deferral period for donors who have had a case or suspected case in their household?
Anyone with a suspected or confirmed infection in a household will be deferred for 28 days after the infected person’s recovery.
9. What is the deferral for donors who have been confirmed as having Covid-19?
Any donors with confirmed Covid-19 will be deferred for 28 days after full recovery from the infection.
10. I recently travelled outside of South Africa, am I eligible to donate?
To prevent the spread of Covid-19, it is mandated for all travellers to self-isolate, and refrain from blood donation for 28 days after any travel outside of the country.
11. Will the eligibility requirements change as more cases are identified in South Africa?
The SANBS continues to evaluate the latest evidence and to prepare for and address a potential pandemic situation.
“Rest assured, we are continuously evaluating whether additional assessments or deferral policies are needed or if additional measures are required to protect donors and recipients.”
12. Are there any risks for donors or recipients?
Current evidence and risk modelling suggest that Covid-19 is not transmissible through blood and blood products.
This includes plasma protein products, which are pharmaceutical therapies made from plasma — a component of blood.
Nonetheless, the SANBS has strict measures in place to ensure the continued safety of our products and services related to blood, plasma, stem cells, and organs and tissues, and to address the health of our donors.
13. Should I stay home if I’m not feeling well?
Yes.
“As we would for flu symptoms or other illnesses, we ask our donors to stay at home if they are not feeling well, since only healthy people are eligible to donate blood.”
Potential donors are pre-screened for any signs of sickness when they present for donation.
“We encourage everyone to keep practicing usual precautions against the spread of infections such as proper hand washing and proper cough and sneeze etiquette, and staying home when not feeling well.”
Also read: Collen Schapira urges residents to know their blood group
14. What if I fall ill after donating?
As with any donation if you fall ill within 14 days of your donation, please contact SANBS on 0800 11 90 31.
15. Should I (as a donor) contact the SANBS if I am investigated by public health authorities as either a case of Covid-19 or a contact of a case of Covid-19?
Yes, we ask donors to please contact us if they are a blood donor and are investigated by public health authorities as either a case of Covid-19 or a contact of a case of Covid-19.
16. How are employees being screened in donor centres?
“We are currently following the advice from the National Institute for Communicable Disease (NICD) to ensure, to the best of our ability, that employees who work in our donor centres are healthy.
“We are taking several proactive steps to limit the risk of infection to our donors and staff.”
16.1. Employees are being asked to monitor their health and not report to work if they are feeling unwell or have come into contact with someone who has been diagnosed with Covid-19.
16.2. Like donors, employees are subject to two active wellness checkpoints upon entry into donor centres where instructions such as hand sanitising are mandatory.
16.3. Employees are required to use the NICD guidance to self-isolate for 28 days if returning from international travel.
They are not expected to report to work under these circumstances.
As the situation rapidly evolves these provisions are subject to change.
Also read: SANBS needs your blood to save a life
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