Patient Education Material

What is blood?

Blood is the red fluid that circulates in our blood vessels, i.e. Veins and arteries. The main function of blood is to act as the body’s transport system, but it also has a major role in the body’s defense against infection. There is no substitute for blood. It cannot be made or manufactured. The major components of blood are Red blood cells, Platelets , Plasma, White blood cells

Function of blood
  • It supplies oxygen to cells and tissues from lungs and brings back CO2 to lungs for purification/oxygenation.
  • It supplies essential nutrients to cells, such as amino acids, fatty acids, glucose, minerals etc.
  • It removes carbon dioxide, urea and lactic acid (waste products) Its white blood cells have antibodies, which defend us from infection and foreign bodies.
  • It has specialized cells, such as platelets, which help the blood to clot (coagulate) when we bleed.
  • It transports hormones - chemicals released by a cell in one part of the body that sends out messages that affect cells elsewhere in the body.
  • It regulates our acidity (pH) levels
  • It regulates our body temperature. When the weather is very warm or during strenuous exercise there will be increased blood flow to the surface, resulting in warmer skin and faster heat loss. When environmental temperatures drop, blood flow focuses more on the important organs deep inside the body by constriction of blood vessels in the peripheral skin and extremities.

Blood Groups

  • A negative
  • A Positive
  • B negative
  • B Positive
  • O negative
  • O Positive
  • AB negative
  • AB Positive
  • Bombay O negative
  • Bombay O Positive

What We Provide

We Provide Packed Red Cells, Random Donor Platelets, Fresh Frozen Plasma, Single Donor Platelets, Single Donor Plasma

Blood Donation
  • There is no substitute for blood. As on today, we cannot replicate blood by synthesis. There is no artificial blood.
  • The only way to generate blood is by our bodies. And the only way to supplement blood reserve is by blood donation.
  • Blood donation can save lives and is a ‘noble’ act.
  • If you want somebody else to donate blood when you are in need of it, then it is your duty to donate blood when someone else needs it.
  • Our body contains 5000 ml of blood circulating in the body; and only 350 ml to 450 ml is drawn during blood donation. This donated blood gets replenished in the body with normal diet.
  • A man can donate blood, with a gap of three months, and a woman after four months.
  • Blood donation is not accepted from anybody who is suffering from HIV, Hepatitis C, VD or any other communicable diseases.

What happens to the donated Blood?

  • After your unit of blood is collected along with several small vials used for testing - your blood donation is labeled and transported to laboratory.
  • Whole blood donations are separated into three essential components—red cells, platelets, and plasma.
  • Your blood is typed, which includes identifying the ABO type and a positive or negative Rh factor, and each vial of blood is tested for safety, including tests for: HBV (Hepatitis B Virus), HCV (Hepatitis C Virus), HIV (the virus that causes AIDS), Syphilis, Malaria, Unexpected red cell antibodies that the donor may have formed in response to an earlier exposure to blood, through either transfusion or pregnancy are also detected.
Blood Recipents
  • Always obtain blood or blood components from a Licensed Blood Bank.
  • Take note of the blood group, date of collection, date of expiry indicated on the label.
  • Do not accept unlabeled blood or blood component.
  • Before receiving blood, ensure that recipient blood is cross matched with donor blood, and it is subjected to mandatory tests viz., HIV 1&2, HBsAg, HCV, VDRL, malarial parasites, blood group and Rh factor.
  • Do not accept blood from a Blood Bank if signs of discoloration or clotting are seen.