What happens with donated blood after donation?
Blood as it is collected from the donor via a vein is almost never used directly for blood transfusion. Patients often only need a specific part of the blood.
A patient only receives the component that he or she requires. This prevents unnecessary side-effects. The remaining components can be used by other patients. This allows your blood to help more patients.
Separation of blood into three components
After collection, a centrifuge separates your blood into three components: red blood cells (erythrocytes), plasma and platelets (thrombocytes). When the blood is centrifuged, the heaviest components sink to the bottom, and the lightest ones stay on top.
The red blood cells are the heaviest, and end up in the bottom of the bag. Blood plasma, which consists mostly of water, is light and stays at the top. The platelets and white blood cells form a thin layer between the red blood cells and the plasma, the so-called buffy coat.
A collection bag consists of three smaller bags that are connected with each other via tubes. After centrifugation, the blood components can easily be separated by transferring them from one bag to the other. Everything remains sterile, because the collection bag is not opened.
In the end, three bags remain: one with red blood cells, one with blood plasma, and one with platelets.
Your blood helps patients
Red blood cells go to patients who have lost a lot of blood, for example after an accident or during major surgery, and to patients who cannot make enough red blood cells, for example people with a bone marrow condition or those who recieve cancer traetment.
Blood plasma is administered to patients with burns or severe blood loss. Also proteins are purified from plasma which are mprocessed into life-saving medicines.
Most platelets go to patients with malignant blood diseases, like leukemia, and other cancer patients. When patients undergo chemotherapy blood-forming stem cells in the bone marrow will be inactivated. As a result, during chemotherapy these patients often suffer from serious platelet deficiency. Donor platelets allow patients to safely weather this dangerous period.
Scientific research
A portion of the blood donation can be used for research with the purpose of improving blood transfusion and the treatment of diseases. Donors always give permission for research use of part of their donation. Sometimes the entire blood donation will be used for research. In this case, we will ask for your written permission.
What happens with donated blood after donation?
Blood for diagnostic tests, research, validation and education
Diagnostics
White blood cells, red blood cells, serum and plasma are also an important source for making reagents. These are products that are used in hospital laboratories to perform diagnostic tests on blood samples. Diagnostic tests can be used to find characteristics or abnormalities in the blood of patients and to determine blood group.
These tests are also performed by Sanquin Diagnostics and produced by Essange Reagents.
Scientific research
If the donor gives permission for scientific research, all components of the blood can be used for scientific research into the functioning of the human body. For example, white blood cells are used to study the functioning of the immune system. Or to develop new treatments for autoimmune diseases and cancer, for example.
Validation and education
Blood components can be used to check whether diagnostic tests or medical equipment are working properly. Blood is also used in schools for practicals, for example for determining blood group.
Plasma processing after donation
During a blood donation, plasma is separated from the donated blood. Plasma can also be donated separately. During a plasma donation, the blood is separated into blood cells and blood plasma. The plasma donor receives his or her own blood cells back during the donation.
Plasma consists of water, in which dissolved salts, sugars, fats, hormones and proteins are present. Some plasma donations are used to restore blood clotting in the event of major blood loss. This can be done in two forms: as a plasma transfusion product. Or as a plasma medicine, in which multiple donations are combined and processed.
The proteins from plasma help against a large number of - often life-threatening - diseases. These are isolated from blood and plasma donations, to be used in concentrated and purified form as plasma medicine.
Three important types of plasma medicines are:
The proteins from plasma help against a large number of - often life-threatening - diseases and procedures. Three important types of plasma medicines are:
- Albumin – This protein ensures that water remains in the blood vessels and does not leak into the tissues. Albumin also ensures the transport of all kinds of substances in the blood.
- Clotting factors – These are proteins that, together with the platelets, ensure that the blood can clot. Clotting factors from Dutch plasma are used to prevent bleeding in people who use blood thinners and have an acute bleeding or need surgery.
- Immunoglobulins (antibodies) – If a healthy person is infected with a pathogen, antibodies are produced by white blood cells. The antibodies protect the body against infections by attaching themselves to invading pathogens, such as viruses and bacteria. Antibodies are an important medicine for people with immune disorders, who do not produce enough themselves. People with autoimmune diseases and muscle diseases are also treated with antibodies.
Sanquin cannot produce these plasma medicines itself. Donated plasma is therefore mostly sold to a pharmaceutical company that processes it into plasma medicines and makes them available to Dutch patients. The Dutch market for plasma medicines is accessible to international, commercial pharmaceutical companies. These plasma medicines are therefore sold at market-conform, commercial prices.