Tips for a Successful Donation:

By following a few recommendations before, during and after your blood donation can help you make your donation experience as safe, successful and pleasant as possible.

Before Your Donation

• Your minimum hemoglobin should be 12 gram / deciliter. You can increase your hemoglobin by eating iron rich foods, such as spinach, red meat, fish, poultry, beans, iron-fortified cereals and raisins.
• Get a good night's sleep if posible.
• Drink an extra 16 oz. of water and fluids before the donation.
• Eat normal meal before your donation. Avoid fatty foods, such as hamburgers, fries or ice cream before donating. Tests for infections (Hepatitis B & C / HIV 1& 2) done on all donated blood can be affected by fats that appear in your blood for several hours after eating fatty foods.
• If you are a platelet donor, remember that your system must be free of aspirin for two days prior to donation.
  

During Your Donation

• Wear clothing with sleeves that can be raised above the elbow.
• Let the phlebotomist know if you have a preferred arm and show the staff any good veins that have been used successfully in the past to draw blood.
• Relax, watch TV, or read during the donation process.
• 450 ml blood bag is filled in 8-10 minutes.
• Take the time to enjoy a snack and a drink after blood donation.

After Your Donation

• Keep lying at least for ten minutes.
• Drink plenty of fluids over the next 24-48 hours to replenish any fluids you lost during donation.
• Avoid strenuous physical activity or heavy lifting for about five hours after donation.
• If you feel light headed, lie down, preferably with feet elevated, until the feeling passes.
• In rare cases when bleeding occurs after removing the bandage, apply pressure to the site and raise your arm for 3-5 minutes. If bleeding or bruising occurs under the skin, apply a cold pack to the area periodically during the first 24 hours.
• Do not drive car / motorcycle at least for 2 hours.
• Do not smoke / eat tobacco / pan at least for 2 hours.
• Do not donate red blood cells before 3 months.
• Do not operate heavy machines / computers for 2 hours.
• If for any reason something doesn't feel right, call the Husaini Blood Bank toll-free number provided to you after your donation.
• Enjoy the good feeling that comes with knowing that you may have saved as many as three lives.
  
  
  

  What Happens to Donated Blood?

  Step 1: The Donation

  • About 450-500 ml of whole blood is collected in the blood bag.
  • Blood sample is collected in one to two test tubes for laboratory testing.
  • The bag, test tubes and the donor record are labeled with an identical bar code label to keep track of the donation
  • The donated blood is stored in thermopore boxes containing gel ice packs until it is transported to a Husaini Lab as per transportation standards.

  Step 2: Processing

  • Blood is spun in temperature controlled centrifuges to separate the blood components like red cells, platelets, and plasma
  • The primary components like plasma, can be further be processed into components such as cryoprecipitate and cryosupernatant
  • After processing Blood and its components are stored at their desired temperatures.
  • Single donor platelet/ Mega Unit is tested for their quality control
  • Test tubes are sent for laboratory testing like blood grouping, hepatitis B & C, HIV 1&2, Syphilis and Malaria.

  Step 3: Testing

  • Steps 2 and 3 take place in parallel
  • The test tubes are received in one of five Husaini Blood Bank Testing Laboratories
  • Laboratory tests are performed like blood grouping, hepatitis B & C, HIV 1&2, Syphilis and Malaria.
  • Test results are transferred electronically to the manufacturing facility within 24 hours
  • If a test result is positive, the unit is discarded and the donor is notified. Test results are confidential and are only shared with the donor,
    except as may be required by law

  Step 4: Storage

  • When test results are received, units suitable for transfusion are labeled and stored
  • Red Cells are stored in refrigerators at 1 -  6 ºC for up to 35 days
  • Platelets are stored at room temperature in agitators for up to 3-5 days
  • Plasma and cryoprecipitate are frozen and stored in freezers at minus 30 ºC or below for up to one year

  Step 5: Distribution

  • Blood is available to be shipped to Husaini Branches 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.