Blood Collection and storage.

Criteria and characteristics of Blood Collection for blood transfusion

Unit IV

Dr Pramila Singh

The following guidelines are followed during blood collection from blood donor

• 1. Sterile technique: Blood collection shall be performed by using sterile equipment and aseptic techniques. This prevents contamination during blood collection.

• 2. Phlebotomist qualification: The person who performs the blood collection procedure is called a phlebotomist. He/she should be well-trained and qualified to collect blood safely.

• 3. Donor identification: Donor identification and personal information must be verified before blood collection.

• 4. Consent and screening: There shall be written consent from the donor. Donors must undergo a screening process to assess the donor’s health condition and suitability to donate blood.

• 5. Venipuncture: A sterile needle and syringe shall be used to collect blood from the median cubital vein. Proper technique shall be used to avoid discomfort, bruising, and any other complications.

• 6. Blood volume: The amount of blood to be collected shall depend upon the specific purpose of collecting blood.

• 7. Blood bag and anticoagulant: A sterile blood bag or blood tube containing suitable anticoagulant is used to collect blood from a donor.

• 8. Infection control: Proper strict infection control measures shall be adopted for blood collection from donors.

• 9. Labelling and documentation: The blood bag shall be suitably labeled to identify the blood donor, blood collection date and time, etc.

• 10. Storage and transportation: Collected blood shall be stored and transported to maintain the integrity and safety of collected blood.

Blood collection:

Blood is collected for two purposes either for blood transfusion or for hematological studies.

Methods to collect blood for blood transfusion

Venipuncture is a process to collect blood from individuals for blood transfusion or for diagnostic testing. A phlebotomist follows the following steps to collect blood from a blood donor using the venipuncture technique.

• 1. Preparation: Gather necessary equipment such as sterile gloves, sterile needle, sterile blood collection tube or bag, tourniquet, alcohol swab, gauze pad, etc.

• Verify blood donor identity and explain the procedure to collect blood. Ask the blood donor to fill out a self-form and sign it. Normally blood donor declares name, sex, age address, date of blood donation, and his consent to donate blood.

• 2. Donor position: Ask the donor to be in the blood collection room and lie down comfortably on the back of the donor couch. Ask the donor to extend the arm facing Pam upward.

• 3. Vein selection: Select the appropriate vein for venipuncture. The most common site for venipuncture is the antecubital fossa (inner part of the elbow). Left hand median cubital vein in antecubital fossa of right-handed blood donor is preferred. a right-hand median cubital vein in the antecubital fossa of a left-handed blood donor is preferred.

• 4. Hand hygiene: Sanitize hands thoroughly using alcohol-based sanitizer. Put on sterile gloves.

• 5. Tourniquet application: Apply a tourniquet or sphygmomanometer cough a few inches above the venipuncture site. It helps to locate selected veins easily. Ask the patient to extend the arm and make a fist.

• 6. Vein palpation: Gently palpate the median cubital vein in the antecubital fossa. If the median cubital vein is not suitable then select the cephalic or basilica vein.

• 7. Vein preparation: Clean the selected vein using an alcohol swab. Strat swabbing from the center and move outward in a circular motion. Allow the vein to dry.

• 8. Needle insertion: Stabilize the vein by pulling the skin taut gently. Hold the needle at a shallow angle (about 15 to 30 degrees) to the skin surface. Insert the needle smoothly and swiftly into a selected vein. Look for blood entry into the needle hub.

• 9. Tube attachment: Attach the blood collection tube or blood collection bag to the needle.

• 10. Blood collection: Release the tourniquet. Fill the blood collection tube or blood collection bag.

• 11. Needle removal: Remove the needle from the vein after collection of the required amount of blood. Apply gentle pressure over the venipuncture site using a gauze pad. This will allow blood clotting and stop bleeding from the vein.

• 12. Post-procedure: Discard the used needle. Apply a sterile adhesive bandage or gauze pad on the vein puncture site. Allow the blood donor to lie down for 15 minutes after completion of blood collection. Label the blood collection tube/blood collection bag. Transport the collected blood to the medical laboratory or blood bank.

• 13. Blood donor care: Consume a more fluid diet in the next 3 to 4 hours. Avoid alcohol consumption for the next 24 hours. Do not drive or smoke for the next 30 minutes. If fill dizzy, lie down to raise legs above head level.

Precautions:

• 1. Use a blood collection tube/bag with the proper amount of anticoagulant.

• 2. Do not allow visitors to enter the blood collection room.

• 3. Maintain proper lighting and hygienic conditions in the blood collection room.

• 4. Interact with blood donors during blood collection.

• 5. If blood donors feel uncomfortable during blood donation, stop blood collection.

• 6. If blood collection time exceeds 10 minutes, stop blood collection.

• 7. Prohibit heavy exercise and heavy weight lifting after blood donation.

Blood storage

Blood storage is a critical process to preserve donated blood and blood components under specific conditions. Internationally colour of the blood container label is fixed. Yellow colour label for blood group-A, Pink colour label for blood group-B, White for blood group-AB and Blue colour for blood group-O. This storage process maintains the viability and safety of blood for blood transfusion. The following guidelines are followed to store blood for blood transfusion.

• 1. Blood donation: The process to collect donated blood is called phlebotomy. Collected whole blood or its separated components are stored. Blood components such as red blood cells, platelets and plasma are separated by centrifugation.

• 2. Screening: Collected blood undergoes a series of tests to ensure safety and compatibility for blood transfusion.

  Blood is tested for blood group and Rh factor. Blood is also screened to detect infectious diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis etc.

• 3. Blood storage conditions: Each blood component has a specific requirement to be stored. Red blood cells are stored at a temperature between 1 to 6 degrees C in a refrigerator. Its shelf life under this condition is 42 days. Platelets are stored at room temperature with gentle agitation. Gentle agitation of platelets during storage prevents platelets from clumping. Platelets' shelf life is 5 to 7 days. Plasma is stored at a frozen temperature below -18 degrees C for one year. Whole blood is stored at 2 to 6 degrees C. The expiry period is 48 days.

• 4. Blood shall be transfused within 30 minutes after its issue from the blood bank. During transportation from the blood bank, the temperature should not exceed 10 degrees C.

Blood bag labels containing donated blood shall have the following information:

• 1. Blood donor name, age, sex and date of birth, date and time of blood collection.

• 2. Blood group

• 3. Anticoagulant added

• 4. Name of the product such as whole blood, red blood cells, platelets, frozen plasma.

• 5. Storage conditions

• 6. Expiry date.