The act of donating blood is a noble endeavor that has the potential to save lives and improve health outcomes for countless individuals worldwide. But have you ever wondered what happens to your blood after donation? It undergoes a series of processes to extract various components, each serving specific purposes in medical treatments, therapies, and research. In this blog post, we will explore the different components derived from blood donations and delve into their invaluable uses.
A Brief History
Initially, blood bags did not exist. Scientists attempted direct transfers of blood from donors to patients and even experimented with animal transfusions. As time progressed, they began storing blood in glass bottles, especially valuable during wartime. However, glass bottles presented challenges, leading to the introduction of plastic bags. Over time, these bags underwent various improvements. Today, advanced bags allow for the separation of whole blood into its individual components. Multiple interconnected bags enable efficient separation, ensuring each component remains distinct.
There are multiple components, the common components include - PRBC(Packed Red Blood Cells), FFP(Fresh Frozen Plasma), Platelet concentrate, and Cryoprecipitate.
We can further modify these components for special purposes.
Click here to understand the composition of blood.
Why not give the whole blood? Component vs whole blood.
During early time blood was given as whole blood. It had all the components. But 1 donation can only the life of 1 patient. If we prepare blood components, one donation can save up to 3 lives. So, that gives us better inventory management.
If the patient doesn't need a platelet transfusion why give them unnecessary components and cause them unwanted harm? All transfusion has the potential to cause a reaction. Even though we take every precaution to make it safe, there is a possibility of an infection or a reaction.
The way prepare component can also affect the quality of the blood.
Components Derived from Blood Donation
How are components separated?
There are different methods of separation. The most common method is by centrifugation.
The blood bags are placed in an instrument which spins the bags at high speed. This will cause the cells(Red cells are heavy in comparison to other cells and liquid plasma) to settle at the bottom, the lighter liquid plasma to remain at the top and those with intermediate weight (WBC and platelet) to come in the middle.
1. Packed Red Blood Cells (PRBCs)
Most commonly used blood component.
Contains red blood cell which has haemoglobin.
RBC is required to transport oxygen to various tissues.
Used to treat anaemia due to various causes, bleeding, blood loss during surgery, chemotherapy, accidents etc.
2. Platelets
Platelets are needed for blood clotting.
The normal platelet count in an adult is around 1.5 lakh to 4.5 lakh.
Platelet transfusion is required in cases where there is a significant loss of platelets due to bleeding, or destruction like in autoimmune conditions.
Reduction in platelets is one of the notorious complications of chemotherapy.
3. Plasma
Fresh frozen plasma contains multiple clotting factors which are essential for blood clotting.
Plasma is used to make Plasma Derived Medicinal Products like Immunoglobulins, vaccines, clotting factors, albumin etc.
4. Cryoprecipitate
Cryoprecipitate is used to treat deficiency of clotting factors like Hemophilia.
Here is a video on different blood components in detail.
Conclusion
The act of blood donation goes beyond merely providing a life-saving resource; it fuels a vast array of medical treatments, therapies, and research endeavours. By donating blood, individuals contribute to the production of essential components like RBCs, platelets, plasma, and cryoprecipitate, each serving unique and critical functions in healthcare. Whether it's aiding in transfusions, facilitating medical procedures, or advancing scientific research, the components derived from blood donations play an indispensable role in enhancing the quality of life and saving lives across the globe. So, the next time you consider donating blood, remember the profound impact your contribution can make in the realm of healthcare and scientific innovation.
Dr. Arun V J
MBBS, MD Transfusion Medicine
+91 8547415117
Comentários