Human Blood Should Not be Stored for More Than Three Weeks

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University suggest that the shelf life of human blood may be shorter than initially thought and said that the maximum length of time that blood can be stored was three weeks instead of the currently followed practice of five to six weeks.

The researchers found that the red blood cells' capacity to deliver oxygen begins to deteriorate after 21 days and said that blood that is transfused after three weeks lose the capacity to squeeze through the body's smallest capillaries to deliver oxygen to tissue.

The researchers acknowledged that their suggestion could increase the strain on the blood banks that already struggle to provide the required amount of blood but said that the banks should consider whether storing the blood up to six weeks is of any use. The study has been published in the journal Anesthesia & Analgesia

However the findings have been questioned by some of the experts, including Sheila MacLennan, who is a consultant haematologist at NHS Blood and Transplant. "There is no definitive evidence at present that transfusing 'older' blood is significantly worse for patients. This is why studies like this are being done. Until we have clearer and more robust evidence of the relative safety of 'older' versus 'younger' blood and the patient outcomes, we should not risk running short of blood for patients who desperately need transfusions to survive", she said.

Source: Medindia

Blood Donation

Blood donation is carried out when a person voluntarily agrees for blood to be drawn with the intention of donating it.

Anticoagulants

Anticoagulants prevent the clotting of blood in our body. They are administered orally or via injection.

Blood in Stools - Symptom Evaluation

Blood in stools results from bleeding that arises from any part of the digestive tract. Causes of blood in stools are hemorrhoids, diverticulosis, colorectal cancer, gastric cancer.

Bombay Blood Group

Bombay blood group is a rare blood type in which the people have an H antigen deficiency. They can receive or donate blood only with other individuals with the same blood group.