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A Commitment To Safety
"Given the ongoing, substantial efforts and resources focusing on maximizing the safety of blood components, the risks associated with the transfusion of blood are extremely rare." "It is estimated that, for every two million units of blood transfused, 1,999,999 people will not contact HIV."
Transfusion Volume 41,November 2001 |
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Giving Blood
The American Red Cross ensures donating blood is a safe opportunity to give the Gift of Life. Each needle is sterile, disposable and used only once - just for you - and then destroyed after use. Red Cross technicians are specially trained to make your donation experience comfortable and rewarding. Our personnel will conduct a confidential health screening to determine if it is safe for you to donate blood. They will also be glad to answer your questions and talk about the process.
Receiving Blood
The Red Cross fiercely protects the blood supply...
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by recruiting only volunteer blood donors
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by providing information about high-risk behaviors associated with transmissible diseases
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by conducting confidential and rigorous behavioral and health history screening interviews of all donors prior to donation.
After donation, each unit of blood goes through up to 12 tests at a National Testing Lab (NTL). Every unit of blood is screened for infectious diseases such as HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis B and C, as well as for unexpected antibodies that might cause complications in some patients.
Within 24 hours of submitting blood samples to the NTL in Detroit, test results are received in preparation for product labeling. Any blood that does not pass all lab tests is destroyed. While blood transfusions are not risk free, the blood supply is extremely safe. The risk of contracting HIV from a transfusion is currently extremely low - less than 0.00005%. In almost every case, the lifesaving benefits of receiving a blood transfusion outweigh the very small risk of contracting an infectious disease. Many layers of safety protect our nation’s blood supply. Modern medicine could not be practiced without blood.
Medical Director approval 2/8/2005 |
