Module 5 - Blood Donations Flashcards
Blood donations are considered…
a special collection
Why may blood donations be collected?
- For submission to a blood bank for use as needed by hospitals & other facilities
- Donate own blood for a transfusion or upcoming surgery
Define Autologous Transfusion
When a patient donates their own blood to be used for their future needs.
Where are most blood donations handled?
Most blood in blood donations is handled in blood banks.
What purpose does the blood bank serve?
The screening and release point for donor units & other blood products patients may need.
What place do blood banks closely work with to receive blood and blood products at request?
Regional blood centers
What facility often draws donor units?
Regional blood centers, but possibly a hospital’s blood bank.
What other procedure can blood banks do, other than getting donor units?
Perform therapeutic phlebotomy
Define therapeutic phlebotomy
Form of phlebotomy prescribed as patient treatment. It is the intentional removal of blood to lower RBCs.
What patients are prescribed therapeutic phlebotomy?
Those w/ polycythemia vera or hemochromatosis.
Define polycythemia vera
High red blood cell count due to bone marrow creating too many RBCs. It is a blood cancer.
Why is polycythemia vera dangerous?
The high RBCs thickens the blood, slowing its flow and making it more likely to create blood clots.
Define Hemochromatosis
A disorder where the body absorbs too much iron from food, causing a high iron count.
What is dangerous about hemochromatosis?
Extra iron is stored in the liver, heart, and pancreas. Making these organs more likely to develop health problems.
What should you ALWAYS ensure when doing blood bank collections? Why?
Ensure identification of patients is correct as incorrect identification can result in FATAL transfusion errors.
Steps to blood bank collections - Part 1
- Wash hands & don gloves
- Properly identify PT
- Perform venipuncture, using appropriate tubes
Steps to blood bank collections - Part 2
- Label specimen w/ specific blood bank labels in front of PT
- Recheck info by comparing labels on tubes w/ patient armband or specific blood bank identification band
- Perform post-venipuncture patient care
Steps to blood bank collections - Part 3
- Deliver specimens & blood bank requisition to blood bank or facility’s transfusion service ASAP
What tubes would you use for blood bank collections?
Often a plain red-top tube & an EDTA tube // Always confirm by label
When collecting blood for a blood bank, what should you do before venipuncture?
Ensure blood collection bags are hung lower than PT’s arm during collection. Gravity assists collection.
What should you do if a blood collection bag only fills partially? What is an action you should NEVER do?
You may have to begin a new blood collection bag. Do not combine two bags.
Define Apheresis techniques
Removal of blood plasma from a patient’s body w/o drawing blood itself. A process separating blood into plasma & cells, returning cells to the patient’s blood.
What is another name of Apheresis techniques?
Power Red
Define Plasmapheresis
The removal of blood plasma from whole blood.
“plasma” -> plasma
“-pheresis” -> machine removes a part of blood, then returns it to body
