The document summarizes the history and functions of blood banks. It discusses how blood banks originated from wartime needs and have evolved to include long-term storage facilities. The key functions of modern blood banks are described as collecting, testing, separating and storing blood donations to make safe blood products available for transfusions. Guidelines for blood donation and processing are also outlined.

1. Ajith Augustine
MSW(medical &
pshychiatry)
PGDHRM,B.COM

2.  Blood Bank is a cache or a bank of blood or blood
components, gathered as a result of blood donation,
stored and preserved for later use in blood
transfusion.
 The term “Blood Bank” typically refers to a division
of a hospital laboratory where the storage of blood
product occurs and proper testing of blood is
performed to reduce the risk of transfusion related
events.
 Now a days stand alone blood banks also occur and
can be a Govt. holding body or a private body.

3. o In 1950, Richard Lewison of Mount Sinai Hospital, New
York City initiated the use of Sodium Citrate as an
anticoagulant. This discovery transformed the blood
transfusion procedure from direct (vein to vein) to indirect.
World War II Russian syringe for
direct inter-human blood
transfusion

4. o The introduction of a Citrate Glucose solution later
permitted the storage of blood in containers for
several days, thus opening the way for the first
“Blood Depot” in Britain during World War I.
o Oswald Hope Robertson, a medical researcher and
US army officer who established the depot, is now
recognized as the creator of first Blood Bank.

5.  1st mobile blood bank was set up in 1930s during
the Spanish civil war.
 On March 15,1937, world’s 1st hospital blood bank
was established in Cook County Hospital of
Chicago, United States.
 In 1939 India’s 1st blood bank was set up in the
School of Tropical Medicine, Kolkata by Sir
Upendranath Brahmachari, the then chairman of
Bengal Red Cross Society.
 In 1941, Blood Collecting Bottles and also the
collection quantity per unit was specified

6.  In 1986 1st AIDS patient due to blood transfusion in
Mumbai was reported thus realizing the immense
importance of testing the blood before transfusion.
 In 1996 Supreme Court of India gave a judgment on
blood transfusion and blood banking in India, as a
result of which National Blood Transfusion Council
and State Blood transfusion Councils were
established
 World Health Day on 7th April 2000 was celebrated
with “ Safe Blood Starts With Me” as slogan of the
year.

7. Luis Agote (second from right) overseeing one of
the first safe and effective blood transfusions in
1914

8. The Blood Bank is one of the major components
of a hospital, concerned with various activities
including donor registration, physical
examination, blood grouping, blood infectious
tests, component separation, blood requisition
and cross match.

9.  “Whole Blood” (WB) is the proper name given for
the un separated venous blood with an approved
preservative added.
 Most of the blood for transfusion
is collected as Whole Blood.
 Autologous donations are sometimes transfused
without further modification

11.  The whole blood is typically separated by
centrifugation into its components, with RBC’s in
solution being a commonly used product.
 Units of WB and RBCs are both kept refrigerated at
1-6 degree Celsius with maximum permitted storage
period (shelf lives) of 35 and 40 days respectively -
SHORT TERM STORAGE OF BLOOD
 Frozen red cells are given expiration dates of up to
10 years and are stored at -65 degree Celsius -
LONG TERM STORAGE OF BLOOD

12. BLOOD DONORS GUIDELINES
Eligibilities
 Any donor, who is healthy, fit and not suffering from any
transmittable diseases can donate blood.
 Donor must be 18 -60 years age and having a minimum weight of
50Kg can donate blood.
 Donor’s Hemoglobin level is 12.5% minimum.
 A donor can again donate blood after 3 months of your last
donation of blood.
 Pulse rate must be between 50 to 100mm without any irregularities.
 BP Diastolic 50 to 100 mm Hg and Systolic 100 to 180 mm Hg.
 Body temperature should be normal and oral temperature should
not exceed 37.5 degree Celsius.
 Non-Eligibilities
 Donors should not suffer from Cardiac arrest, hypertension, kidney
alignments, epilepsy or diabetics.
 Ladies with a bad miscarriage should avoid donating blood for the
next 6 months.

13.  If donor already donated blood or have been treated for malaria
within the last three months.
 If donor undergone any immunization within the past one month.
 If donor consumed alcohol within the last 24 hours.
 If you are HIV+.
 If donor had a dental work for next 24 hours and wait for one
month if donor had a major dental procedure.
 Preparation
 Prepare yourself by having enough fruit juice and water in the
night and morning before you donate blood.
 Avoid donating blood in empty stomach. Eat three hours before
you donate blood. Avoid fatty foods. Eat food which is rich in
iron such as whole grains, eggs, and beef, and spinach, leafy
vegetables, orange and citrus.
 Don’t consume Alcohol or caffeine beverages before donating
blood.
 Avoid donating blood for 6 months if you had any major surgery.

14.  Post Donation Care
 Have some rest 5 to 20 minutes after donation. Do not drive
after donation of blood.
 Have some snacks and juice with high sugar content which
will help to rejuvenate the blood sugar back up.
 Have a good meal with high protein content such as
Chicken, Beef etc.
 Do not consume Alcohol for 8 hours after donation of
blood.
 Avoid going for a heavy body works such as gym, dancing,
running etc. at least for next one day.
 How to Relieve
 While you are being needled to take blood, relax to the
maximum, have a deep breath. There will be little pain or no
pain. Try to distract yourself from the process by having a
chewing gum. Listen to some music or watch some
entertaining TV program.

15.  Although blood is donated absolutely free of cost by
the volunteers but when required by anyone, certain
amount of money is charged from him/her.
 This is done because the lab spends a good amount
of money on conducting certain important blood
tests and on the staff and equipment's in the blood
banks

16.  Mobile Blood Bank is a self-contained Blood donor
clinic that comes to you on a dependable schedule,
on wheels.
 Mobile Blood Bank is a mobile medical center, a
Blood collection vehicle at your door, rain or shine.
From the outside, the mobile Blood Donation Unit
is about as big as a bus. It is over forty-feet long,
eight-feet wide and nearly fifteen feet high.
 Commonly known as the “BloodMobile”.

17.  The Bloodmobile has a Blood donor welcome area,
private interview booths, comfortable donation
beds, and a refreshment area where Bloodmobile
Blood donors are encouraged to enjoy coffee or
juice after their Blood donation. There are lots of
windows in the Bloodmobile placed throughout the
viewing area in the Bloodmobile to allow for ample
natural light, creating an inviting and relaxing
atmosphere. You can see out; Others can not see you
inside the Bloodmobile!
 The Bloodmobile travels to business and
educational organizations throughout.

18.  Certain blood banks are now offering online
services for people seeking blood through internet.
 It made the search for appropriate blood group and
other specifications easier and much simpler.
 An easier way for volunteers to search for where
and when to donate blood.
 Some of the online sites are:
• www.bharatbloodbank.com
•www.bloodbankonline.org
•www.bloodbankindia.net