Tag Archives: DONOR BLOOD COLLECTION

9. Tie tightly the loose knot in the tubing or fold back the tubing and apply a sealing clip, about 20 cm from the needle.

10. Cut the tubing between the clamp and knot

11. Collect a blood sample from the donor into a plain tube for testing (grouping, HIV screening,
etc). Unclamp the tubing and allow 5–7 ml
blood to run out of the tubing into a tube or
vial. Reclamp the tubing.

12. Remove the pressure cuff. Take the needle out of the vein, applying pressure with cotton wool.
Ask the donor to continue applying pressure to the venepuncture site with his or her other hand. Dispose of the needle safely.

13. Mix the blood in the bag and push (‘strip’) the non-anticoagulated blood from the tubing into the blood bag. Mix and allow the tubing to refill with the anticoagulated blood.

14. Write clearly the identity number of the donor on the blood pack and sample tube(s). When a blood pack has already been given an identity number, e.g. from the blood transfusion service use this number on the sample tube(s). Do not
use the manufacturer’s lot or batch number
because this will be the same on several blood packs.

15. After making sure the bleeding has stopped, cover the venepuncture site with a pad of cotton wool and adhesive tape (advise the donor to remove the dressing the following day). Thank the person for donating.

16. Give the donor a drink (not alcohol) to make up his or her fluid loss.
Provide the donor with a dated certificate of blood donation and information concerning future donation.

17. Check that the blood pack and blood sample(s) have been labelled correctly and the same identity number is written on the blood donation certificate.

18. Refrigerate the blood after allowing time for it to cool and for natural bactericidal activity of white
cells (1–2 h). Do not leave a blood bag in direct sunlight. To avoid raising the temperature of the blood bank, first store the blood for 3–4 hours in another refrigerator (when the blood bank is
an absorption type refrigerator.

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1. Apply a deflated pressure cuff to the upper arm about 6 cm above the elbow. Raise the pressure to between 60 and 80 mm Hg to enable the veins to be seen and felt. Select a large well situated vein for the venepuncture, usually near the bend of the elbow.

2. Clean very well the required part of the arm with cotton wool and 70% ethanol (alcohol). Wipe dry with a clean swab of cotton wool.

3. Take a blood collecting pack:

• Make a loose knot (without kinks) in the tubing. When sealing clips are available, there is no need to make a knot in the tubing.
• Suspend the bag on a stand (linked to a Balance) about 30 cm below the level of the donor’s arm.
• Clamp the tubing near to the needle guard. Whenever possible use plastic forceps to avoid damaging the tubing.

4. Make a venipuncture with the needle directed upwards in the line of the vein. Unclamp the tubing to allow the blood to flow. If necessary, secure the needle in place with a small strip of adhesive tape.

5. When the blood begins to flow, reduce the pressure of the cuff to 40–60 mm Hg, and ask the donor to squeeze slowly a small object.

6. When the blood enters the pack, gently mix it with the anticoagulant by lifting and tilting the bag. Do not squeeze the bag because this can damage the red cells. Mix the blood a further three times during the donation and when the donation is finished.

7. When the pack weighs 500–600g, the donation is complete, i.e. 450–495 ml blood has been collected.

8. Reduce the pressure in the pressure cuff to zero and remove the object from the donor’s hand. Clamp off the tubing 10–15 cm from the needle.

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