BLOOD DONATION DURING COVID-19: ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES.

 

Blood transfusions are an integral part of healthcare in all medical facilities. With the dawn of the pandemic, the adequate and safe availability of blood to meet patient needs became a significant concern. The fear of getting infected with the virus while transfusing blood was a huge problem. Blood transfusion centres in many parts of the country faced difficulties, thus generating a shortage of blood services and blood donors. New policies were implemented, like providing spacious rooms, free blood screening, and keeping the beds at a distance were to this effect.

Transfusions of blood and blood products save lives every year. There is a need for blood and plasma every day to assist covid-19 patients, cancer patients, new mothers and babies, people with immune inadequacies, and people who need surgery. Currently, there’s no evidence anywhere in the world that coronavirus or other respiratory viruses can get transmitted through blood transfusion. Nevertheless, there are some advantages and disadvantages of blood donation. They are:

Advantages of Blood Donation

Only healthy people are eligible to give blood with donors screened upon entry for any indication they may be unwell or infected. Social distancing and hygiene measures are also in place, including screening donors, wearing gloves, and wiping down surfaces after every donation. If you are between 18 and 60 years of age, in good health, weigh at least 50kg for males or 45kg for females, and with good blood pressure, you can be a donor. The advantages of blood donation include:

Helps Covid-19 patients

People who have survived the virus may be able to help others with the infection by donating blood plasma. Their plasma could contain antibodies to the virus. If the infected person receives this blood-containing plasma, it may assist their body fight the virus. We can also get a free private corona test in the process of testing for blood donation.

Identifying adverse health effects

Each person who donates blood during the pandemic completes a simple biological examination and blood test before donating blood. These are not comprehensive tests, but they may help detect unknown health problems, such as anaemia, covid-19, and high or low blood pressure. The test will check the person’s: blood pressure, body temperature, heart rate, and iron levels. If it reveals a problem, the person will not donate blood. These tests include the cheap PCR test London, and those who visit Edgware community hospital can get the Edgware blood test. However, the results could be a first step toward seeking treatment.

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