from Medical topics
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 18 December 2014
Blood donation – an overview
The donation of human blood, blood components and organs is an integral and indispensable part of modern medical care around the world with some countries having more success at the recruitment of donors than others (Ferriman, 2005). Across all blood centres, the demand for blood and blood products is steadily increasing as the population ages and innovative medical and surgical techniques are introduced. The demands for blood have begun to exceed supply, and the increase in complexity of donation has had a knock-on effect on recruitment of blood donors. Compared with two decades ago, the donation process has become increasingly regulated as attempts are made to acquire quality blood that is safe and free from disease and infection. The results of this increased regulation are increased donor loss through deferral, disqualification (Davey, 2004) and an apathy towards volunteering (Putnam, 2000). In the United States and the United Kingdom, blood stocks have been further impacted in recent years by the implementation of strict deferral guidelines for the prevention and transmission of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) (US Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration & Centre for Biologics Evaluation and Research, 2003; United Kingdom Blood Transfusion Services, 2002; US Department of Health and Human Services & Food and Drug Administration Centre for Biologics Evaluation and Research, 2002).
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