After an accident or during an operation – blood donations are extremely important for the sick and injured. Donations are still low: although 94 percent of Germans consider blood donations to be important, only just under 3.5 percent actually donate. Stefanie Sklarzik from the blood donation service of the Bavarian Red Cross answers the most important questions about the donation.
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Stefanie Sklarzik: If you have one, bring your blood donor card and an official photo ID (identity card, passport or driving license) with you. When you register, you will receive a questionnaire with important information and questions about your health – fill it out at your leisure.
We take a drop of blood from you to determine the hemoglobin level and, for first-time donors, the blood group. A medical examination follows, during which blood pressure, pulse and body temperature are measured. You discuss your completed questionnaire with the doctor.
This is followed by the donation – this takes about ten minutes. They give off about 500 milliliters of blood. After a break afterwards, it is very important that you eat something, drink a lot (non-alcoholic, of course) and relax for a moment.
Sklarzik: Donor blood is vital for many people. Around 2,000 blood units are needed every day in Bavaria and 15,000 across Germany. Currently, only about 5.3 percent of the population in Bavaria and 3.5 percent in Germany donate – but every third person is dependent on a blood product at some point in their life. With modern processing techniques, blood donations can be broken down into their component parts, helping up to three patients.
Sklarzik: After the appointment, the blood donations come to our production and logistics center in Wiesentheid in Lower Franconia for processing.
There, the blood is centrifuged and divided into its individual components – erythrocytes (red blood cells), thrombocytes (platelets) and plasma. The individual blood preparations are stored in the institutes of the blood donation service until they are used in the hospital or in a doctor’s surgery.
A control tube of blood is also taken from each donor at the donation appointment. These are examined in our laboratories in Munich and Wiesentheid: The first step is to determine the blood group and Rhesus factor. Then we test the blood for various infectious diseases, such as HIV, hepatitis and syphilis.
The viruses or virus-specific antibodies are often only detectable in the blood several weeks after an infection. It is therefore important that the medical questionnaire is filled out truthfully before donating blood.
Sklarzik: No. The lost blood volume of about 500 milliliters is quickly compensated for. The reproduction of the white blood cells (leukocytes), which are responsible for the defense against germs, takes place within a few days.
The blood plasma is also reproduced in the short term. The platelets also only need a few days. Red blood cell regeneration takes about two months. Performance is not affected during this time.
Sklarzik: In order to prepare your body’s fluid balance for the blood donation, it’s important that you drink a lot (2.5 to three liters) on the day of the blood donation – alcohol-free, of course. In addition, you should not eat any foods that are too fatty the day before. This affects the quality of the plasma.
Don’t donate on an empty stomach. Please allow at least one hour to donate blood. You should refrain from sporting activities both before and after the donation. It is also advisable to refrain from smoking four hours beforehand, as this also affects the quality of the blood.
Sklarzik: The blood is thoroughly tested for certain infections and pathogens. If one of the examinations deviates from the norm, you or your family doctor will be informed of the result in writing.
Sklarzik: No. One should not donate blood in a weakened physical condition
Sklarzik: Depending on your travel destination, you can get infected with certain pathogens, such as e.g. B. hepatitis A or malaria – without already feeling symptoms of the disease when you return. In the case of such diseases, it can take several weeks from the time of infection until it can be detected in the blood. If you donate blood immediately after a trip, the risk of transmitting pathogens to the blood recipient is increased.
Most patients who need blood are already debilitated and should not be put at further risk – however small it may seem in some cases. Safe blood products for patients are a top priority.
If you have stayed more than 48 hours in a country with a risk of Chikungunya, West Nile virus, Dengue fever, you can donate blood again without symptoms of illness one month after your return.
If you have been to a country where there is a risk of malaria, you can donate again without symptoms six months after your return, provided the stay is less than six months. Individual countries or regions that are not listed can be declared risk areas at short notice.
Sklarzik: Type I diabetics need insulin and are therefore not allowed to donate blood. Type II diabetics can be allowed to donate blood if they have good blood sugar control and are taking tablets. However, if insulin or another antidiabetic has to be injected, type II diabetics are also excluded from donating blood.
Sklarzik: In the case of a “whole blood donation” or just called a blood donation, almost 500 milliliters of blood are taken from the donor. The blood taken is separated into its various components. As a result, these preparations can be used in a targeted manner for several patients and according to their needs.
In plasma donation, also called plasmapheresis, only blood plasma is taken from the donor. All other blood components are returned to the donor via the plasmapheresis machine. The blood plasma is used either for the production of plasma preparations or for direct therapeutic use.
Sklarzik: Men can donate blood six times within twelve months, women four times. There must be a gap of 56 days between two whole blood donations.
This article was written by Franziska Lehnert, science journalist
The original of this post “Only 3.5% of Germans actually donate blood” comes from FOCUS doctor search.
