Transfusion With Your Own Blood

The risk of getting AIDS and other diseases from a blood transfusion is extremely low. Autologous blood transfusion, or transfusion with a person's own previously donated blood, will eliminate this risk. Many blood banks allow people to donate their blood for only their use. The blood is stored for elective surgery or a medical emergency. This blood is not part of the general blood supply for donation to the public.

Donating your own blood is time-consuming and expensive ($100 or more per pint). Insurance does not always cover the expense. The expense is for the extra work involved in the special labeling, separate storage, and delivery at the right time. The added cost is worth it to some people. In times of emergency, these people may still require blood from random donors. The medical facility treating them may not be able to obtain their stored blood in time of need.

Some surgeries, like spine fusion and gall bladder removal, do not usually require transfusions. Only certain kinds of surgery are likely to require blood transfusions. Talk with your surgeon about what your chances are for needing transfused blood.

Self-donated blood can be collected a pint a week for up to 6 weeks before the date of use. This allows your system time to replenish its blood volume before surgery. Your own blood does not need to be screened like random donor blood does.

Technology now allows blood lost in surgery to be collected and transfused back to the patient. Not all blood lost can be saved, but the recycling procedure often allows enough to be saved to avoid using donor blood. The procedure has its own risks and is not right for all patients.

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