(4) Hazardous activities. If job duties (or hobbies) include possible hazard
to self or responsibility for the safety of others, the consequence of temporary incapacity
as a result of fainting, or other delayed reactions should be considered. Donors should
be accepted only if adequate time elapses before returning to such activities.
Examples: Operators of cranes, heavy equipment, power machinery, buses, taxicabs,
or trains; workers on jobs requiring climbing ladders or scaffolding; scuba or sky divers;
12 hours. Flight crews: 72 hours.
(5) Specific directives regarding blood donation by personnel on flying
status have been issued by the military services. In general, such personnel are
excused from participation in routine blood-collection programs.
(6) Race. This information may be particularly useful when blood of a
specific phenotype is needed to meet the needs of patients with unexpected antibodies.
Care should be taken to ensure that minority populations understand the medical
importance and scientific applications of this information.
(7) Unique characteristics of the donor, which may enable the blood bank to
make optimal use of the donation are recorded (for example, donors who are seronegative
for cytomegalovirus (CMV) or who are group O Rh negative are often designated for
neonatal patients).
1-3.
DONOR SELECTION
a. A limited physical examination and a rather detailed medical history must be
done on the day of and prior to each donation to determine whether giving blood will in
any way harm the donor or if transfusion of the unit will in any way harm the recipient.
Careful donor selection plays a major role in determining whether or not a unit will be
therapeutically effective and free of transmissible disease.
b. The order in which questions are asked or examinations performed may be
arranged for convenience. The interview must be conducted by qualified personnel, as
designated by the medical director, in a manner that assures auditory privacy (visual
privacy is also recommended), allays apprehensions, and allows time for any necessary
discussion or explanation. Answers to questions must be recorded as "Yes" or "No,"
with details added as indicated. Results of tests must be recorded.
c. The required procedures with some acceptable methods, guidelines for
obtaining accurate, required information and allowable parameters for acceptance,
deferment, or permanent rejection are given below. Additional criteria may be indicated
in areas with special local health problems.
(1) Weight. Donors weighing 110 lb (50 kg) or more may give 450 plus or
minus 45 ml of blood as well as up to 30 ml for processing tubes. Donors weighing less
than 110 lb are not normally drawn.
MD0845
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