10. Keep the donor under observation throughout the donation process. The donor should never be left unattended during or immediately after donation. 11. Mix blood and anticoagulant gently and periodically (approximately every 45 seconds) during collection. Mixing may be done by hand or by continuous mechanical mixing. 12. Be sure blood flow remains fairly brisk, so that coagulation activity is not triggered. 13. Monitor volume of blood being drawn. One mL of blood weighs at least g. A convenient figure to use is 1.06 g/mL. For a 500-mL bag unit, this is 530g (plus the weight of the container and anticoagulant) mL anticoagulant in 450 mL bag 70 mL anticoagulant in 500 mL bag

If it is necessary to draw a smaller amount than appropriate for a standard collection container, then the amount of anticoagulant in the container must be adjusted appropriately. The formula in Table may be used to determine the amount of anticoagulant to remove. The volume of blood drawn must be measured carefully and accurately. by Mohammed Abu-basha2

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A donor weighs 32 kg : (32/50) * 450 ml bag = 288 ml should be drawn from donor. 14ml of anticoagulant is needed from every 100ml of blood (14:100) ratio (288ml) * (14/100) = ml anticoagulant. Each 450 ml bag contains 63ml of anticoagulant. 63ml – = ml of anticoagulant should be removed from the primary bag 63 mL anticoagulant in 450 mL bag 70 mL anticoagulant in 500 mL bag 4

14.(finishing) Clamp the tubing near the venipuncture using a hemostat, metal clip, or other temporary clamp. Release the blood pressure cuff/tourniquet to 20 mm Hg or less. 15. Deflate the cuff and remove the tourniquet. Remove the needle from the donor’s arm, if not already removed. Apply pressure over the gauze and ask the donor to raise his or her arm (elbow straight) and hold the gauze firmly over the phlebotomy site with the other hand. 16. Discard the needle assembly into a biohazard container designed to prevent accidental injury to, and contamination of, personnel. 17. Seal the tubing attached to the collection bag into segments It must be possible to separate segments from the unit without breaking sterility of the bag like using electric sealer. by Mohammed Abu-basha5

Preparation of Segments

18. Reinspect the container for defects. 19. Recheck numbers on the container, processing tubes, donation record, and retention segment. 20. Place blood at appropriate temperature. Unless platelets are to be removed, whole blood should be placed at 1 to 6 C immediately after collection. If platelets are to be prepared, blood should not be chilled but should be stored in a manner intended to reach a temperature of 20 to 24 C until platelets are separated. Platelets must be separated within 8 hours after collection of the unit of Whole Blood. by Mohammed Abu-basha7

How much time does it take for my body to replace the blood that I donated? Not long at all. The volume of fluids will adjust within a few hours of your donation. The red blood cells will be replaced within a few weeks.

How often may I donate? You may donate whole blood once every 56 days, which allows plenty of time for your red cells to be replenished.

Does donated blood stay on the shelf indefinitely until it is used? No. Each unit of whole blood normally is separated into several components. Red blood cells may be stored under refrigeration for a maximum of 42 days, or they may be frozen for up to 10 years.

Blood Collection Whole blood is collected in clear plastic bags that contain different mixtures of anticoagulants: 1.Citrate: chelate calcium, preventing coagulation 2.Phosphate: prevents pH from dropping 3.Dextrose: provides nutrients to RBCs during storage 4.Adenine: maintains ATP

Anticoagulants Anticoagulants: – CPD Citrate, Phosphate, and Dextrose 21 days shelf life (at 1-6°C) – CP2D Citrate, Phosphate, and 2Xdextrose 21 days shelf life (at 1-6°C) – CPDA-1 Adenine added 35 days shelf life  Additive Solutions prolong red cell survival for 42 days

How much do hemoglobin levels drop in your blood right after donating blood in an average 75 Kg adult? Collection of whole blood following a 500 ml (+/- 50 ml ) volunteer blood donation would be expected to decrease Hgb by 1 g/dL and hematocrit (hct) by 1-3 % in an average 75 Kg adult. While total blood volume will be replaced within hours by extracellular fluid transfer into intravascular space, red cell mass is replaced within 3-5 weeks in most donors. Current FDA guidelines allow allogeneic blood donations with a Hct >/= 38% or Hgb >/= 12.5 g/dL. The maximum whole blood collection volume is 10.5 mL per kilogram body weight.