Blood donation: FAQs

A body fluid that delivers nutritional elements and oxygen to the various cells of the body and takes waste products away from them is known as blood. It is vital for sustenance of life.

Basically, it is composed of a suspending medium called plasma and cellular elements. There are three types of cellular elements viz. Red Blood Cells (RBCs), White Blood Cells (WBCs) and Platelets each having different roles.

Why to donate blood?

Blood and blood components are required in various medical and surgical conditions like trauma, cancer, pregnant females etc. Some patients like those of Thalassemia and Hemophilia need transfusions of blood or blood components at regular intervals. Till now there is no substitute for this precious resource which can only be obtained from a donor.

Who can donate?

Any healthy individual between the age of 18 to 65 years, having weight more than 45 kg, hemoglobin more than 12.5g/dl and is not ill at present or do not have history of chronic illness can donate blood.

How long does it take to donate blood?

The entire blood donation process starting from registration, medical history, limited physical examination, lab testing, donation itself till post donation refreshment takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Is it safe to donate blood?

It is absolutely safe to donate blood. Volume of blood donated is recovered within 24 hours of donation. There is no weakness after donation. Also new sterile blood bag is used for every donation. There is no risk of acquiring any infection like HIV or Hepatitis via blood donation. Sometimes a donor may feel lightheaded or dizzy which is easily manageable within few minutes.

What are the benefits of blood donation?

By donating blood, you will be helping to save lives of 3 to 4 patients as the blood collected from you will be separated into 3 or 4 components. Also, you will be screened for various diseases and will undergo a limited physical examination and laboratory tests including Hemoglobin and blood group. Blood collected from you will be tested for infectious diseases and you will be informed if there is any infection.

What is apheresis?

Apheresis is a process by which only the required blood component e.g. platelets is collected with the help of a machine commonly called as cell separator and remaining components are transfused back to the donor at the same time. The advantages of apheresis are that the donor loses only the component which is collected and he can donate more often via apheresis than donating whole blood.

We at the Blood Bank of Paras Hospitals Panchkula have all the facilities for blood donation and apheresis. So, come forward to donate blood. We assure you will feel good after donation.