Donated blood and compatibility

Donation

The transfusion chain starts with the donation of blood. A blood donation is taken in aseptic conditions in a plastic bag containing an appropriate amount of anticoagulant. A donation may consist of whole blood, platelets or plasma. Various criteria are considered concerning the donor eligibility. Read more...

Separation and storage of blood components

According to modern transfusion medicine the patient is given the blood component that he needs rather than whole blood. Therefore, the donations is separated into several components, such as packed red cells, buffy coat (platelets and leucocytes) and plasma. Todate, platelets are usually through aphaeresis.
The primary components are referred to as labile components of blood. They can only be conserved for a limited period of time. Read more...

Compatibility

Our immune system produces natural antibodies agains bacteria that crossreact with the ABO antigens. Transfusion of ABO incompatible blood leads to to strong transfusion reactions. In addition, patients needing multiple transfusions may develop antibodies against incompatible blood group polymorphisms such as Rhesus, Kell, Duffy and Kidd antigens (more than 270 have been described). A subsequent transfusion can then only be given using blood lacking these antigen(s).

Apart from the well known red cells blood groups, platelets, leukocytes, lymphocytes have also blood groups antigens; additionally leukocytes and platelets express HLA antigens. Read more on transfusion barriers...

Biological testing of donated blood

Donated blood is systematically screened for infectious diseas markers (HIV, HCV, HBV, syphilis), ABO/Rh blood groups and irregular antibodies. Read more...