Blood Bank Standards: Ensuring Safe & Reliable Blood Transfusions

Since 1915 when the first anticoagulant was discovered, the blood donation industry has produced numerous breakthroughs, including the discovery of RH factors and better anticoagulants, increasing the availability and reliability of blood for transfusions. Blood transfusions save 4.5 million American lives, annually.

Significance

• In countries where standards are not set forth, untested blood accounts for thousands of deaths worldwide each year.

Regulators

• The American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) creates and updates blood bank standards regularly to ensure the utmost in safety.

Tests

• Tests performed on all donated blood in the United States include, Hepatitis B surface antigen and Hepatitis B core antibody, Hepatitis C virus antibody, HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibody, HTLV-I and HTLV-II antibody and Serologic test for syphilis.

Time Frame

• Blood can be refrigerated for 42 days or frozen for 10 years and still be usable for patients.

Fun Fact

• One in 10 Americans admitted to hospitals require blood.