| You are here: Home > Blood Disorders > Blood donation |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
blood transfusion |
|
- Blood transfusion is a procedure in which the blood or blood components from one person, called a donor, is given to another, called a recipient. Depending on the reason for the transfusion, the person may be given whole blood or a blood component, such as: red blood cells platelets blood clotting factors fresh frozen plasma white blood cells This blood can be obtained from many sources. Volunteer donors are carefully screened and interviewed before they are allowed to donate blood. Friends or family members can do a "directed donation." But, findings have shown that these donations are not any safer than those given by random donors. An autologous donation means that a person has donated his or her own blood to be stored for future use. This may be done prior to an elective surgery. |
|
|
Coombs' test, indirect |
|
- The Coombs' test detects antibodies, or proteins that react against other molecules, against red blood cells in an individual's serum or attached to an individual's red blood cells. The Coombs' test is commonly performed before a blood transfusion to make sure that antibodies in an individual's blood will not cross-react, or be attacked by antibodies in blood obtained from a donor. Transfused blood that does not match the blood of the individual who receives the blood could cause complications in the person who receives the blood. |
|
|
FBC |
|
- A FBC, also called a full blood count, is a screening test used to diagnose and manage many diseases. A FBC measures the status of important features of the blood, including the: number of red blood cells (RBCs) number of white blood cells (WBCs) number of platelets total amount of haemoglobin in the blood percentage of blood composed of cells, or haematocrit mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) mean corpuscular volume (MCV) Who is a candidate for the test? |
|
|
ferritin |
|
- Ferritin is the iron storage protein found in the blood. This test measures the amount of available ferritin in the blood serum. Iron is important for red blood cell production. |
|
|
haemoglobin |
|
- Haemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells. It carries oxygen from the lungs to cells throughout the body, and carries carbon dioxide from the cells to the lungs. A haemoglobin test measures the level of this protein in a sample of blood. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
