Blood Transfusions

Blood transfusions are done to add more blood to a person's bloodstream. They are given when a person's life is threatened by loss, destruction, or reduced production of blood. Blood transfusions are often needed for accident victims, surgery patients, and people with blood disorders. Transfused blood may come from volunteer donors or from the patient.

Blood is transfused through a vein. The amount of blood required depends on the amount lost or on the severity of the blood disorder. The patient's pulse, blood pressure, and temperature are measured regularly during the procedure.

When there is any sign of reaction to a blood transfusion, the procedure is immediately stopped. A blood reaction usually is not severe. In rare instances, a transfusion reaction can produce shock or kidney failure. Mild symptoms include fever, chills, rash, or delayed anemia.

The risk of getting an infection (hepatitis, AIDS, syphilis, or malaria) from a transfusion is very small. Better science and updated laws permit safer screening, testing, and storage of donated blood. In spite of these precautions, very rarely some blood carrying HIV does get through the screen process. This happens because there is a period of time known as the antibody-negative window. If a donor is newly infected with HIV and unaware, they will not have produced a detectable level of antibodies at the time the blood is donated. As a result, very rarely, transfused blood contains HIV.

Changing technology continues to reduce the risk of getting an infection from donated blood. The safest blood is your own. Although there are times when using your own blood is not an option, it is now possible to "recycle" your blood during some surgical procedures. Donated blood is safer than it ever has been.

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