Manipal: K.M.C. begins a new chapter in blood donation

By Subhas Marne
Bellevision Media Network

Manipal, 27 May 2011: K.M.C. Hospital which is popular with its so many achievements, has opened a new chapter in blood donation history and this development will become a huge step to fulfil the shortage of blood donors. K.M.C. now has the facility to just remove only the required components out of the four components of blood, instead of taking the blood from the donor. This facility has been inaugurated by K.M.C. Dean Dr. Shripathi Rao.

 

 

Department of Immunohematology and blood transfusion, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal is starting Aheresis procedures to collect single donor platelet concentrates. Blood is made of four components : platelets, plasma, red blood cells and white blood cells. The platelet component is necessary to control bleeding. Patients undergoing treatment for dengue, chemotherapy and radiation treatments, for example, are unable to produce enough platelets.

 

Without platelet transfusion, life-threatening haemorrhages could result. Until recently, the only way to collect enough platelets for a single transfusion was to take blood donations from 5 to 10 donors, separate the platelets from the other blood cells, and combine the platelets to obtain a large enough quantity for transfusion. Today, sophisticated medical equipment ‘blood cell separators’ KMC can collect enough platelets for transfusion from a single donor.

 

Many lifesaving medical treatments require platelet transfusions. Cancer patients, those receiving organ or bone marrow transplants, victims of traumatic injuries, and patients undergoing open heart surgery require platelet transfusions to survive. Because platelets can be stored for only five days, the need for platelet donations is vast and continuous.

 

 

Requirements for aphaeresis donation are very similar to those for whole blood donors. Donor should be preferably repeat donor, might have given blood 1-2 times earlier. Age should be between 18-50 years, weight 50kg or more, haemoglobin 12.5g/dl and platelet count must be more than 1,50,000/ul. The issues of safety and quality, which are the basic requirement in blood banking, are met by the use of single-donor aphaeresis components.

 

The advantages of the single donor components are: Reduced multiple donors exposure – reduced risk of alloimmunization, and reduced incidence of transfusion transmitted diseases. Full and effective transfusion dose is achieved through aphaeresis. Higher quality of blood product, Purer product – leukocyte reduced product are other visible benefits. This enables KMC to match donor to patient – Platelet matched or HLA matched. There is less donor reaction due to the return of fluid. Apheresis works on Smaller needle technology and it is more convenient.