People who are thinking about donating blood often have questions (Picture 1). Here are answers to the questions most often asked about donating blood for surgery.
Although most transfusions are done using volunteer donor blood, patients may sometimes use their own blood for transfusion. An autologous (aw-TAHL-uh-gus) blood donation is made by the patient, usually before a scheduled operation. Then it is given back to the patient during surgery. One or more units of blood are drawn from the patient and stored until the operation. Receiving your own blood is the safest method of transfusion.
Benefits of an autologous transfusion include:
If a child is healthy and has a normal blood count, he may donate blood for himself with his doctor's approval. In order to donate a full pint of blood, the patient must weigh at least 110 pounds.
Yes. Autologous blood is tested for HIV and hepatitis. It is then labeled for the patient's use only.
Yes. There is an added cost because autologous donations are stored and kept apart from the community blood supply. The fees will be added to your child's hospital bill for every unit of blood donated. Even if your child does not have a blood transfusion, the extra cost of processing the blood will be charged.
Carriage Place Donor Center, Dublin
2674 Bethel Rd.
Westbelt Donor Center, Hilliard
4327 Equity Drive
StoneRidge Donor Center, Gahanna
337 StoneRidge Lane
(614) 253-2740 ext 2354
If you have any questions, be sure to ask your doctor or nurse.
HH-II-124 12/91, Revised 7/06 Copyright 1991-2006, Nationwide Children’s Hospital