|
Facts About Donating Blood Giving
and receiving blood saves lives. Your gift of blood helps others.
Receiving blood when you need it can save your life. There are many
different and conflicting stories in newspapers and magazines and on
television about AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), which is
caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). These stories often
confuse people about how safe it is to give and receive blood. Some
people are so confused about HIV and AIDS that they no longer give blood
or plasma. Others believe that receiving blood is so dangerous that they
would even refuse a necessary transfusion. Having the facts can help. FACT:
It is impossible to become infected with HIV by giving blood. In
the United States, new sterile equipment (needles, tubing, containers)
is used for each person who gives blood. No piece of equipment has ever
been used before. Each needle used is discarded properly after drawing
someone's blood.
FACT:
Receiving blood is safer than ever before. Your
chances of becoming infected from receiving blood are very small. All
donors are interviewed for risks of HIV infection. In addition, when
someone gives blood or plasma, it is tested for signs of HIV hepatitis,
syphilis, and certain other diseases. If these tests reveal infection,
the donated blood or plasma is destroyed. Interviewing donors before
they give blood to help identify their risk of being infected with HIV
and using blood testing, helps keep the blood supply very safe. FACT:
Tests on blood and plasma can detect signs of HIV. HIV
can be detected by a variety of tests. The most common test, the ELISA
(enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) test, looks for antibodies to HIV in
the blood. FACT:
Antibody blood tests are very accurate. The
ELISA test, when repeated and used along with another more specific
test, such as the Western blot test, is nearly 100 percent accurate. How
is the nation's blood supply protected? In 1985, Red Cross blood centers around the nation began to use the ELISA test to screen all donated blood and plasma. However, it is possible for people recently infected with HIV to give blood without knowing they are infected, and before tests would be able to detect antibodies in the donated blood. Therefore, people who want to donate blood are asked specific questions about their behavior to determine if they have been exposed to HIV or other blood-borne viruses. If their answers suggest they may be at risk of infection, they are not allowed to donate. Although the current tests are nearly 100 percent accurate, testing is being improved to make blood and plasma products even safer. What about blood products used by people with hemophilia? To
control bleeding, people with hemophilia need clotting factor
concentrates made from the blood of many donors. New methods used to
produce these concentrates have been shown to greatly reduce risk of
transmission of HIV and other disease agents. Today, medical authorities
believe that people with hemophilia have almost no risk of receiving HIV
contaminated clotting factor concentrates. Is it safe to have a blood transfusion? In the United States, the chance of becoming infected with HIV through transfusion is now extremely low. Although some people became infected with HIV early in the epidemic from infected blood and plasma products, nearly all of these infections occurred before HIV antibody blood tests became available in 1985. No
person requiring a blood transfusion should refuse it for fear of
becoming infected with HIV. The risk of refusing a necessary blood
transfusion can be far greater than the risk of becoming infected with
HIV through a blood transfusion. What
about having my own blood stored? Your
doctor may suggest that you consider having your own blood stored (autologous
blood donation) in case you need a transfusion for a scheduled (non
emergency) surgery. Your doctor, local Red Cross blood center, or
hospital can help you do this and see that the blood is
available should you need
it at the time of surgery. If you are not expecting to have surgery
soon, having your blood stored requires freezing and is generally
impractical, costly, and unnecessary. What
do I need to know about HIV and AIDS? AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. It is a disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It makes your body unable to fight diseases and infections. These diseases and infections can kill you. People infected with HIV usually look and feel healthy and may not even know for years that they are infected. Although they don't look or feel sick, they can infect others by having sex or sharing needles, and through pregnancy. When symptoms do appear, they can be like those of many common illnesses, and may include swollen glands, coughing, fever, and diarrhea. Symptoms vary from person to person. None of the symptoms necessarily means a person is infected with HIV. By the time someone develops AIDS, the virus has usually damaged the body's defenses (immune system). People with AIDS develop diseases that most healthy people can resist or control. Only a blood test can tell if a person has HIV. Only a doctor can diagnose AIDS. There
is no vaccine for HIV or cure for AIDS. However, there are many new and
promising treatments for people infected with HIV and for those sick
with AIDS. Future medical advances may prevent people who are infected
with HIV from developing AIDS. How
is HIV spread? These are the most common ways in which HIV is spread
Also, an infected mother can infect her baby during pregnancy, childbirth, and, rarely, through breast feeding. HIV is not spread through everyday social activity, the air, or water. What
should I do if I think I may be infected with HIV?
FACT: There are treatments for HIV infection and AIDS. Medical research shows that early treatment for people infected with HIV helps them live longer and slows the onset of symptoms and HIV related illnesses. People are learning to live with HIV infection as a chronic illness. What can I do to help? Know the facts about HIV and AIDS. Use what you have learned to help protect yourself. Share the facts about HIV and AIDS with your family, friends, and co-workers. Set an example for others. Show support and caring for people who are infected with HIV and for those who have AIDS. Remember, you can't get AIDS from being a friend. Sponsor a blood drive or donate blood. Blood donations from healthy volunteers save lives (make sure you meet donor requirements before giving blood). It is impossible for a donor to get HIV infection by giving blood. Sponsor an AIDS fund-raising event or donate money. Become
a Red Cross HIV/AIDS instructor. For more information, contact
The following brochures on HIV/AIDS are available at the Red Cross Lebanon chapter office:
Other Red Cross HIV/AIDS programs and materials:
Give the gift of life. Give blood. If you want to schedule yourself or your business for a blood drive Click here. If you want to see where upcoming Blood Drives are going to be held Click Here. Or call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543) and make an appointment to donate blood today.
If you have any Comments
or Suggestions,
Contact us here. |
