Preferred Type Of Donation

[Shan Xue]

i just saw at HSA website the preferred Type Of Donation (whole blood, plasma or platelets) for Different Blood Groups.

http://www.hsa.gov.sg/html/ctm/preferred_donation.html

anyone can explain the rationale?[/quote]

[jf]

Hi, newbie here.

I sign up for plateletpheresis some time back when the staff at Blood Bank encouraged me to. They advised that since I am O+, my blood components are in good demand.

Guess the classification of preferred donation has to do with universal donor blood group (O+, whose components are accepted by all) and universal recipient blood group (AB+, who accepts from all blood groups).
Maybe O and A components are in most demand because they can be used by all or most. In contrast, AB platelets and rbc are only useful within its own blood group (which is smallest), so asked to donate plasma for all instead. Can anyone clarify this?

btw, going for plasmapheresis today instead. Because been to Batam (considered malaria endemic region), so cannot donate platelets or whole blood for three months! :( But still plasma is better than nothing.

Today's my 38th. Gunning for the 50th in two years' time! :D

[Shan Xue]

Hi, newbie here.

I sign up for plateletpheresis some time back when the staff at Blood Bank encouraged me to. They advised that since I am O+, my blood components are in good demand.



i am also O+ and donating platelets. if O+ platelets are preferred over O+ whole blood, wonder why blood bank website indicates the reverse :roll:

http://www.hsa.gov.sg/html/ctm/preferred_donation.html

[Shan Xue]

just found out that O- is the universal red blood cell donor and for platelets and plasma, both AB positive and negative are the universal donor types and can be given to any other blood type.

that should explain the preferred donation by blood bank.


What is the universal donor blood type?
For red cells, type O negative (which occurs in about 7 percent of the U.S. population) is the universal donor type and can be given to any other blood type. AB positive (which occurs in only 3 percent of the U.S. population) is the universal red cell recipient type and can receive any type of red cell blood. For platelets and plasma, both AB positive and negative are the universal donor types and can be given to any other blood type. Types O positive and negative are the universal recipient types and can receive any type of platelets or plasma.

http://www.utahblood.org/facts/frequently.htm

[jf]

I see

So there is a difference between say, O+ rbc and O+ plasma / platelets.

O+ rbc are universally accepted by all rh+ patients, but O+ plasma / platelets are not that useful (or useful for O+ patients only) becos of the Anti-A and Anti-B antibodies in the plasma.

Due to the antigens (on rbc) and antibodies (in plasma), an A+ patient can receive O+ rbc, but not O+ plasma. Interesting!

No wonder whole blood in itself is not useful and has to be broken into its components for infusion. There is therefore the case to encourage pheresis more. :D

My previous sec. school info on blood types is a bit too simplistic! :oops:

[Otterman]

I saw the preferred type of blood donation last night when I was logging in to teh HSA site to book a plasmaphereisis appointment. It answered all the questiosn I had last year!

Since I am O+, I stopped my registration and instead, walked in today and donated whole blood, as recommended. Very useful!

[jf]

Yes, as I am also O+ and have thought of reverting to whole blood donation from platletpheresis.

However, I am not sure which way benefits society more for O+ donors : more plateletpheresis donations vs fewer whole blood donations in one year.

The interval for whole blood donations is frustratingly longer than apheresis donations.

[Shan Xue]

i am also O+ and donating platelets. i am not sure but i think blood bank still prefer O+ platelet donor to continue to donate platelets.
in the first place, we are encouraged by the nurse to convert from whole blood donation. :?

Secondly, the website indicates that platelets is the preferred type for B+ only. B+ cannot support all the platelets required.

though it is possible to extract out the platelets from whole blood donation, the amount is small and poses a higher risk to the recipient as 5 to 6 bags of blood from different donors are required to get the equivalent amount donated through apheresis.

Also, not many people qualify to go for apheresis as it require stronger and prominent veins. not many people are willing to spend the longer time to donate through apheresis. donations through apheresis is only available at blood bank and hospitals while whole blood donation can be collected at mobile stations.

i have spoken to the nurse at SGH before. she told me that platelets from apheresis is still preferred as the amount is more and the risk for the recipient is lower.

anyway, i have just sent blood bank a query to clarify which type they prefer me to donate.

[Otterman]

We are second-guessing them despite clearly-stated preferences, so perhaps it's best to ask HSA directly for a clarification.

[Shan Xue]

I was at the blood bank last Sat. I asked the officer in charge of booking the appointment whether I should revert back to whole blood donation. He said that is not recommended since I was recommended to donate platelets by the nurse previously. I then commented that the website gives the impression that I should whole blood as it is listed as the first choice. He said he will feedback to his boss.

Today, I just called HSA blood bank. They said they are going to revise the table of preferred donation. Meanwhile, they said continue to donate whatever you prefer.

Separately, I have sent them a feedback through their website last week. Awaiting for reply.

[Otterman]

Thanks Shan Xue!

[Shan Xue]

You are welcomed Otterman.

Thanks for setting up a website on blood donation.

Even b4 this forum started, I came across your website and found it very interesting.

http://blood.sivasothi.com/

So rare to find a person so passionate about donating blood :D

[Shan Xue]

This is the email reply from HSA.




Query

With reference to the Preferred Type Of Donation For Different Blood Groups at

http://www.hsa.gov.sg/html/ctm/preferred_donation.html,

I would like to ask whether I should donate whole blood instead. I am type O+ and have been donating platelets. However, according to the website, preferred donation for people of my blood group should be whole blood.

Years ago, I was encouraged to go for platelet donation. Should I now go
for whole blood donation instead?

Reply from HSA

Thank you for your strong support of the national blood programme. We are happy to provide information on any aspect of blood donation.

In general, red cells from O+ donors are suitable for transfusion to A+, B+ and O+ recipients. Hence O+ donors are encouraged to donate red cells in the form of whole blood. Of course, O+ donors who still prefer to donate plasma alone via apheresis technique are still most welcomed to do so as it is difficult to get donor to donate plateletpheresis due to long donation procedure. However we would strongly urge O+ donors to donate their red cells instead, in view of this versatility of O+ red cells.

We would like to take this opportunity to invite you to join our new red cell apheresis donation program later this year. CTM will be launching this new program by the end of this year. Donors will have the option of donating 2 units of red cells via apheresis technique at each visit, instead of only 1 unit of whole blood. Donors will be donating at 16 weeks interval. This would help to increase our national blood supply, as well as optimize the donation efforts of our blood donors.

Needless to say, CTM is very excited and most eager to introduce this program as soon as possible. However we will need the support of committed donors like yourself to make this new program a success. We sincerely hope that you will give us your support and join us as a red-cell apheresis donor when this program commences.

Please do not hesitate to contact me at 62130606 if you need any further
clarification.

Dr Tan Hwee Huang
Deputy Director (Blood Resources)
Centre for Transfusion Medicine
Health Sciences Authority

[Shan Xue]

Yes, as I am also O+ and have thought of reverting to whole blood donation from platletpheresis.

However, I am not sure which way benefits society more for O+ donors : more plateletpheresis donations vs fewer whole blood donations in one year.

The interval for whole blood donations is frustratingly longer than apheresis donations.

Have posted similar question to blood bank. This is their reply.


Question

Dear Dr Tan,

If I donate 2 units of red cells via apheresis technique every 16 weeks,
can I still donate platelets via apheresis technique every 4 weeks? If not,
what is the interval between red cell and platelet donation?

16 weeks is a long wait for donors who are used to donating on a 4 weeks
interval. To become a champion donor will now take donkey years for them.

Will donating platelets through apheresis every 4 weeks be more ptimised
than donating 2 units of red cells every 16 weeks?

Can the demand for O+ platelets sufficiently supplied through extracting
from whole blood, even without O+ apheresis donors?

We are actually discussing this in the donorweb forum. Can I quote your
reply as others have similar doubts on the preferred donation?

Thanks and Regards,

Answer
After red cell apheresis, you have to rest for 16 weeks before making any
donation; after platepheresis, you only need to rest for 4 weeks before
next donation of any type.

If you aim to achieve Champion Donor Award in shorter time possible,
plateletpheresis is the answer. It is also equally important to have donors
donate plateletpheresis regularly although patients need group O and A red
cells.

Yes, you can share this information with other donors.

Have a good day!

Dr Tan Hwee Huang
Deputy Director (Blood Resources)
Centre for Transfusion Medicine
Health Sciences Authority