Donor Information

Donor Selection Criteria

Testing and notification:
The following tests are performed at every blood donation:

  • Blood grouping
  • HIV (Antibody and Antigen)
  • Syphilis
  • Hepatitis B
  • Hepatitis C

Please note:

You will not be contacted in the case of your result being negative. Your test results will remain confidential. Your test results will not be given telephonically. We urge donors to be absolutely honest in answering their questionnaires.

Interesting information:

What is blood?

Blood is composed of fluid and different kinds of blood cells. Plasma is the fluid portion of blood. White Blood Cells protect against disease and infection. Platelets help form blood clots when bleeding occurs. Red Blood Cells transport oxygen from the lungs to the other cells of the body and return carbon dioxide to the lungs.

Are there different groups?

There are a number of blood group classification systems. The most commonly used one is the ABO system. Not all groups are compatible and the success of modern transfusion medicine depends on classifying and matching donors and patients correctly. You will be notified of your blood group after your first donation.


How does it work?

Now that you are a blood donor, you can expect the following steps at each clinic:
The confidential donor questionnaire must be completed every time you donate blood. It cannot be completed prior to the clinic. It is in the interest of the recipient as well as in your own interest that you be absolutely honest when answering these questions.

Donor criteria are:

  • Good general health.
  • Weight more than 50kgs.
  • Donor must be older than 17 years.
  • Donor must have eaten prior to donation.
  • Donor should not engage in risky sexual practices.

After you have donated blood:

Take in extra liquid within the few hours after donation (6 glasses, non-alcoholic). This is particularly important in hot weather. If you feel dizzy lie down or sit with your head on your knees. Keep the dressing on your arm dry and in place for 5 hours after donation. If the needle site starts bleeding again, raise your arm straight up and apply some pressure until the bleeding stops. Do not attempt any heavy exercise or lift heavy objects on the day of the donation. It is advisable to reduce your load of strenuous exercise/sporting
activities for a few days after donating. If you are worried about any severe bruising or pain in the arm where the needle was, you should please contact the Sister on duty (021-507 6355), Medical Officer (a/h) at 083 259 2119 or 083 309 1580 - Medical Director (a/h).

Please do not donate blood if…:

  • you have not had a light meal 3-5 hours before giving blood.
  • you have had major surgery in the last 6 months.
  • you are due for an operation within 6 weeks.
  • you have had jaundice or hepatitis (discuss with Sister on duty).
  • you are pregnant or nursing your baby (until 3 months after the baby's birth or one month after the baby is weaned).
  • you have had cancer, heart disease, epilepsy, or a bleeding disorder.
  • there is any chance that you may have been exposed to the AIDS virus.
  • you are a competitive sportsman or involved in a "hazardous" occupation, taking any medication or in any doubt about your health. (Please discuss this with the Sister on duty at any clinic or phone the Blood Transfusion Service and ask for the Medical Officer or a Sister.)
  • you have a major sporting event or exam coming up.
  • your haemogobin (iron) level will be determined by a "finger prick test". If you are unable to donate due to low haemoglobin, it may not be cause for alarm. You will be advised accordingly at the clinic.

We set our levels higher than "normal" to protect the donor. To prevent the donor from becoming anaemic, we set our levels slightly higher than the minimum requirement. Your blood pressure will be tested: in the case of it being abnormally high or low, you will be deferred from donation and advised accordingly. At all our clinics we employ qualified nursing sisters, use sterile needles and disposable materials to ensure maximum safety precautions. The same amount of blood is drawn each time - 475 ml. You will be served some basic refreshments after donation to sustain you. You will be advised regularly of your next clinic details. You will receive a blood donor card with all your details and blood type. You will be asked how you prefer to be contacted and given options as to which clinic you wish to attend regularly.

What happens to my blood?

After collection, the Service tests and groups all blood before it is issued. Each unit of blood is weighed, labelled and sortedaccording to how it will be processed. Great care is taken to ensure that labelling on the blood packs correlate to all otherdocumentation. The two blood specimens taken at eachdonation are sent for laboratory testing.

One donation can help a number of patients…

Most transfusion patients don't need to receive whole blood. Rather, their particular treatment will call for one or two components of blood (plasma, red cells, platelets or cryo). As a result, patients will receive only the part of blood they really need, and every single donation is used as effectively as possible.

 

  

 
search