What is Blood Transfusion?
Blood transfusion is the process of receiving blood products into one’s circulation intravenously. This procedure is performed for various reasons, including:
- Blood loss: For quick restoration of Hb level
- Exchange transfusion: Used in cases of:
- Blood diseases like aplastic anaemia, leukemia, hemophilia, purpurae, clotting defects
- Acute poisoning
- Acute infections or fever when gamma globulin is needed
- Shock
Before a blood transfusion can take place, it is crucial to determine the blood types of both the recipient and the donor. This ensures that the blood is appropriately matched and minimizes the risk of complications.
Agglutination Test
The agglutination test is a critical step in determining blood compatibility. Here’s how it works:
- Separation and Dilution: The red blood cells are separated from the plasma and diluted with saline.
- Mixing with Anti-A and Anti-B Agglutinins: One portion of the diluted red blood cells is mixed with anti-A agglutinin, while another portion is mixed with anti-B agglutinin.
- Observation: After several minutes, the mixtures are observed under a microscope.
Results: If the red blood cells clump together (agglutinate), it indicates that an antibody-antigen reaction has occurred. This information helps determine the blood type and compatibility.
Donor Selection
Stringent criteria are followed for donor selection to ensure the safety of the blood transfusion process. Here are the key requirements:
- Health and Age: Donors must be healthy individuals between 18 to 60 years of age.
- Weight: Donors should weigh more than 45 kg.
- Female Donors: Female donors should not be pregnant, lactating, or menstruating.
- Disease Exclusion: Donors must be free from diseases like AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, Malaria, and Syphilis.
- Medical History: Donors should not have a history of jaundice, Tuberculosis (TB), or cardiac diseases.
- Blood Group Identification: Accurate identification of the donor’s blood group is essential.
- Cross-match Test: A cross-match test must be performed before transfusion to confirm compatibility between the donor’s and recipient’s blood.
- Prioritizing Same Blood Group: Whenever possible, transfusion should be done using the same blood group as the recipient’s.
