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Every day, emergency rooms throughout the United States are challenged by large numbers of people who need blood, including victims of fires, floods, storms, and other disasters.
But it's not just accidents or disasters that prompt the need for blood. Blood is required for many people ranging from those with life-threatening illnesses to others undergoing routine surgeries.
In fact, every two seconds, according to the American Red Cross, someone in America needs blood, such as:
"Blood products are often lifesaving or life-enhancing," says Jesse Goodman, M.D., Director of the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER). "FDA strongly encourages people who are in good health to donate blood and to become regular blood donors."
FDA, through CBER, is responsible for ensuring the safety of the more than 14 million units of blood and blood components donated by volunteers each year in the United States. FDA's standards and regulations regarding blood donations and processing help protect the health of both the donor and the recipient.
"Some people are concerned that they might get an infection by donating blood," says Goodman. "Donating blood is a safe procedure."
FDA's oversight of the blood industry includes:
FDA's blood safety efforts focus on minimizing the risk of transmitting infectious diseases, while maintaining an adequate supply of blood for the nation. "While a blood supply with zero risk of transmitting infectious disease may not be possible, the blood supply is safer than it has ever been," says Goodman.
This safety record is based on five layers of overlapping safeguards:
If a violation of any one of these safeguards occurs, the blood product is considered unsuitable for transfusion and is subject to recall.
Emerging threats to the blood supply and other potential risks mean FDA's Blood Safety Team never stops looking for ways to improve blood safety. "We need to continually work to preserve the safety and integrity of blood and blood products," says Goodman.
FDA scientists are working to produce sensitive donor screening tests to detect bioterrorist agents in blood donations. They are also working to improve blood donor testing kits to detect variable strains of HIV, West Nile virus, hepatitis viruses, and the parasite that causes Chagas disease, a serious and potentially fatal infection. In addition, FDA's Blood Safety Team regularly looks at donor deferral issues to update eligibility requirements when appropriate.
As a member of a task force of blood services, associations, government agencies, and device manufacturers, FDA helps assure that blood facilities keep safe and adequate inventories at all times in case of a disaster, and that the facilities have the means in place to determine the need for collecting and transporting blood if a disaster occurs.
Blood is critically needed every day, yet only about 5% of the eligible U.S. population donates blood in any given year, according to the American Red Cross. Healthy individuals who meet donor eligibility requirements are urged to give blood.
The entire procedure takes about an hour and includes:
Source: American Red Cross
To meet the basic requirements for giving blood, you must be healthy (feel well and be able to perform normal activities) and:
A number of conditions, which will be discussed with you at the donation site, make you temporarily or permanently ineligible to give blood, such as:
The rules for eligibility are less strict when making donations for your own use (autologous donations) during surgery.
Source: FDA
For more information about donor eligibility and giving blood, see
FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research
www.fda.gov/cber/faq/bldfaq.htm
AABB (formerly known as the American Association of Blood Banks)
www.aabb.org/content
America's Blood Centers
www.americasblood.org
1-888-USBLOOD (872-5663)
American Red Cross
www.GiveLife.org
1-800-GIVE-LIFE (448-3543)
To sign up for e-mail reminders, in English or Spanish, to schedule blood donations and other regular screening tests, see the College of American Pathologists' Web site at www.MyHealthTestReminder.com
Date Posted: October 4, 2007