Blood Donation

Blood Donation

Blood donation is a procedure done voluntarily by volunteers where blood and its components are drawn from them for different purposes. These purposes may include transfusion for medical emergencies, and donated blood can be used for essential medical research. There are several types of blood donations, including whole blood, plasma, platelets, and red cells; however, the most common is whole blood donation. The first successful blood transfusion from human to human was made in 1818 when James Blundel transfused about 12 ounces of blood to a lady who had hemorrhaged when giving birth. Since then, there have been advancements in how blood donations, transfusions, and storage are made. This paper seeks to elaborate on the information that needs to be noted about a blood sample during collection. Secondly, it seeks to expound on why collecting and documenting this information is important, and lastly, what I think about each piece of information on every sample.

What information might be noted about a blood sample when collecting it?

Information about a blood sample should be documented. This information includes the patient’s name, the date of birth, the medical number of the patient, the location of the patient, the date and time of the procedure, the type of blood sample collected, the required test, and lastly, the physician or practitioner who requested it.

Why do you think each of these pieces of information is collected?       

Information about a blood sample is collected and properly documented to avoid mixing different patient samples, which may lead to adverse errors, for example, errors in transfusion, errors in medication, and errors in performing procedures. Proper documentation also ensures accurate and reliable results when the blood samples are being tested (“Specimen Labeling Requirements | Department of Pathology | School of Medicine | University of California, Irvine,” 2022)

What do you think each piece might indicate about the sample?

The patient’s name helps identify between the provided samples to avoid mismatching. Secondly, the date of birth also helps differentiate one patient from another, reducing the chances of making any errors. Lastly, the type of blood sample helps determine the correct tests and procedures to be performed.

        References

Specimen Labeling Requirements | Department of Pathology | School of Medicine | University of California, Irvine. Pathology.uci.edu. (2022). Retrieved 5 October 2022, from https://www.pathology.uci.edu/services/specimen-labeling-requirements.asp.

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Respond to the following in a minimum of 175 words:

Donating blood is a common way that people support their communities. When blood transfusions were still very new, the medical field did not realize that specific blood samples had to be collected to perform a successful transfusion. Now, the medical field collects certain information about donated blood.

Blood Donation

Think about an experience donating blood (or how it has been portrayed in the news or media).

What sorts of information might be noted about a blood sample when collecting it?
Make some predictions—why do you think each of these pieces of information is collected?
What do you think each piece might indicate about the sample?