The blood bank is committed to protecting the safety of both donors and potential recipients by providing quality blood and blood products from non-remunerated, healthy donors following a stringent screening process. Voluntary blood donation, being the safest form of blood donation, is encouraged. The blood bank provides for the blood requirements of patients within the hospital as well as various other hospitals and nursing homes in the city. The blood bank is licensed to prepare Whole Blood, Packed Red blood Cells, Platelet concentrate, Fresh Frozen plasma, Cryoprecipitate, Single donor platelets (platelets prepared by pheresis), Plasma pheresis and leucodepleted blood.

Following blood donation, every blood unit is separated into its components and tested for ABO & Rh blood grouping, Antibody screen, Screening for infectious diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Syphilis & Malarial Parasite with highly sensitive and fully automated technologies.

The blood bank is equipped with the state of art equipment that enables use of advanced techniques for processing, screening and storage of blood, thus providing the assurance of quality blood products for all patients. As part of its ongoing quest for excellence, the blood bank is in the process of acquiring a separate NABH accreditation for the blood bank.

Why Donate Blood?

• Blood is a ‘gift of life’ that a healthy individual can safely give to those in need.
• Blood cannot be manufactured and only human blood can be used for transfusion to human beings.
• Blood donation requires only 30 minutes of your time.
• Your body contains 5 litres of blood, of which you donate only 350-450ml.
• Your blood volume gets replenished within 24-48 hours.
• By donating one unit of blood you can save not just one but 3 lives.
• Each blood unit is separated into blood components like platelets, plasma, cryoprecipitate which are transfused to different patients according to their indication.
• Blood transfusions are frequently required for patients with various conditions like thalassemia, hemophilia, leukemia, malignancies, organ transplant patients, accident victims, major surgeries, premature babies and many more.

Who Can Donate Blood?

• Any healthy individual between the age of 18-60 years.
• Donors with weight more than 48 kgs.
• Donors with a hemoglobin above 12.5gms/dl.
• Who have not donated blood in the last 3 months.
• Who are not suffering from fever, chest infection.
• Who have not had a major surgery in last 6 months.
• Who have not had a blood transfusion in the last 1 year.
• Who have not suffered from malaria, dengue, jaundice in the last 1 year.
• Who have not suffered from tuberculosis, heart disease, kidney disease or cancer.
• Who are not on any regular medication or antibiotics for infection.

Handy Tips For Blood Donors

A few Handy tips to follow before, during and after donation can make your blood donation a safe and pleasant experience.

Before Your Donation

• Maintain a healthy iron level in your diet by eating iron rich foods.
• Get a good night's sleep.
• Drink extra water and fluids before the donation.
• Eat a healthy meal an hour before your donation. Avoid fatty foods before donation.
• If you are a platelet donor, do not take Aspirin for three days prior to donation.

During Your Donation

• Loosen any tight clothing.
• Relax and talk to other donors or the blood bank staff.
• Donation will be complete in 10 minutes.
• Enjoy the refreshments provided to you.

After Your Donation

• Drink plenty of fluids over the next 24-48 hours to replenish the fluid lost during donation.
• Leave the band aid on the site of needle prick for 6 hours.
• Avoid strenuous physical activity or heavy lifting for next 12 hours.
• If you feel dizzy, lie down with feet elevated, until the feeling passes.
• In rare cases when bleeding occurs after removing the bandage, apply pressure to the site and raise your arm for 3-5 minutes.
• If swelling occurs under the skin, apply a cold pack to the area.
• Enjoy the good feeling that you have saved as many as three lives.

Blood FAQ

1. Why Is Voluntary Blood Donation Encouraged?
   In the days of blood communicable infections, Repeat voluntary donors who donate without any form of remuneration are the cornerstone of a safe and adequate blood supply.
2. Why Cannot One Donate Before 18 Yrs?
   Physiologically there is no harm but in our country 18 years is the legal age.
3. Why Is 3 Months Interval Required between Two Donations?
   Although the lost blood is replenished within 6 weeks, an additional 6 weeks is required for the safety of the donor.
4. Can One Contract HIV Or Hepatitis By Donating Blood?
   One cannot contract HIV or hepatitis by donating blood as only sterile items and disposables are used during the donation process.
5. How Long Can Blood Be Preserved In Blood Bank?
   Blood can be preserved for 35 days or 42 days depending on the type of blood bag used for storage.
6. Does One Feel Weak After Donating Blood?
   Blood donation does not have any adverse effects on the body and one can go back to work soon after donation.
7. What Tests Are Performed Before Blood Donation? 
   A general physical examination like Weight check, Hemoglobin estimation , Blood Pressure and Pulse check, Respiratory system and temperature is performed before donation to ensure suitability of the blood donor.
8. What Laboratory Tests Are Performed On The Donated Blood? 
   Hepatitis B surface antigen, Hepatitis C virus, Malarial parasite, HIV virus, Blood Group, Antibody screening test and Cross matching (Compatibility test) are performed.
9. Why Are The Above Tests Not Performed Before Donation? 
   The above tests are time consuming and would result in a long waiting period for the blood donor.
10. Why Do Blood Banks Avoid Directed Donations From Relatives?
    Husband’s blood given to wife can lead to antibody formation causing problems to the fetus in future. Blood from any blood relative such as father, mother, children, siblings can lead to serious medical complications. Additionally, close relations may not always disclose high risk history in front of other relatives.