Donating Blood: The Often Overlooked Tragedy of Discarded Donations

The amount of donated blood that is discarded after collection can vary widely, impacting the availability and effectiveness of this essential medical resource. Generally, it is estimated that approximately 5 to 10% of donated blood does not make it into transfusions.

Reasons Behind the Discarded Blood

The reasons for discarding donated blood are diverse and numerous, including expiration, infection or contamination, and quality control issues. Below we delve into these factors to better understand the extent of this issue.

Expiration

Blood has a limited shelf life, with red blood cells typically lasting 42 days, while platelets last for about 5 days. These time frames are critical, as expired blood is not suitable for transfusion. Ensuring optimal storage under controlled conditions is essential to maintain the viability of donated blood.

Infection or Contamination

If a blood donation tests positive for infectious diseases, such as HIV, hepatitis, or other pathogens, it must be immediately discarded. This is a safety measure to prevent the transmission of these diseases through blood transfusion, which is a critical step in maintaining public health.

Quality Control

During testing, blood may be discarded if it does not meet strict quality standards. This includes parameters such as hemoglobin levels, pH, viscosity, and other biochemical markers that ensure the blood is safe for transfusion. Ensuring that these quality standards are met minimizes the risk of adverse reactions and complications post-transfusion.

Over-collection

When more blood is collected than necessary, some units may go unused. This can happen during large-scale blood drives or in situations where the initial estimates of need are exceeded. To minimize waste, blood banks implement various strategies, such as improving inventory management and enhancing the awareness of blood donation needs.

Ensuring Adequate Blood Supply

Blood banks strive to maintain a three-day supply to ensure a consistent and reliable source of blood for transfusions. However, achieving this goal can be challenging, as blood components such as red blood cells, plasma, and platelets have varying shelf lives and require careful management.

For example, platelets only last for 3 days, so a high demand for fresh platelets is necessary. Red blood cells have a 35-day outdate, and as they approach this limit, they are "double-tagged" to increase the likelihood of being used for one of two patients. This practice helps to maximize the use of these valuable resources.

The Importance of Blood Donations

Despite the high rates of discarded blood, every donation is crucial. Many types of surgery and medical procedures require cross-matched blood to be on standby in case it is needed. Postponing surgeries due to a lack of available blood can be detrimental to patient outcomes.

It is common for a single unit of blood to be cross-matched against multiple patients. While this unit may not be transfused, its availability ensures that it is possible to perform numerous lifesaving operations. No blood donation is ever pointless, as every unit contributes to the overall availability and safety of the blood supply.

Efforts to minimize waste include implementing advanced inventory management systems, promoting blood donation awareness, and optimizing the use of blood components. By working together, we can reduce the amount of discarded blood and ensure that every donation has a meaningful impact on patient care.

Key Points:

Approximately 5 to 10% of donated blood is discarded. Reasons for discarding include expiration, infection, contamination, and quality control issues. Blood banks maintain a three-day supply to ensure consistent availability. Every donation contributes to the possibility of performing lifesaving operations, no matter the ultimate fate of the units.