Blood is a body fluid in humans and other animals that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to

the cells and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells.
In vertebrates, it is composed of blood cells suspended in blood plasma. Plasma, which constitutes 55% of blood fluid, is
mostly water (92% by volume), and contains dissipated proteins, glucose, mineral ions, hormones, carbon dioxide (plasma
being the main medium for excretory product transportation), and blood cells themselves. Albumin is the main protein in
plasma, and it functions to regulate the colloidal osmotic pressure of blood.
Vertebrate blood is bright red when its haemoglobin is oxygenated and dark red when it is deoxygenated. Blood is circulated
around the body through blood vessels by the pumping action of the heart. In animals with lungs, arterial blood carries
oxygen from inhaled air to the tissues of the body, and venous blood carries carbon dioxide, a waste product
of metabolismproduced by cells, from the tissues to the lungs to be exhaled.
Medical terms related to blood often begin with hemo- or hemato from the Greek word haima for "blood". In terms
of anatomy and histology, blood is considered a specialized form of connective tissue, given its origin in the bones and the
presence of potential molecular fibers in the form of fibrinogen

Blood Components
Blood delivers oxygen and nutrients to the cells and transports waste substances away from them. In every two to three
drops of blood, there are about one billion red cells. And for every 600 red blood cells, there are about 40 platelets and one
white blood cell. Currently, there is no viable substitute for human blood.

In todays medical treatment, patients may be given whole blood or specific blood components required for their condition.
These components include:

Red Cells
Each red blood cell has haemoglobin that carries oxygen to the cells of the body and transports carbon dioxide from the
cells to the lungs for excretion. Manufactured in the bone marrow, red blood cells are continuously being produced and
broken down. They live for approximately 120 days in the circulatory system before they are removed by the spleen.

White Cells
White cells are responsible for cleansing the body and fighting off infections. However, they are usually not used for
transfusion as the white cells from donations are not useful after 24 hours.

Platelets

These are small cell fragments in your blood whose main function, along with clotting factors, is to stop bleeding. When a
blood vessel is damaged, platelets will become glued together at the damage site to form a platelet plug, which prevents
blood from leaking out.

Plasma
Approximately 55% of blood is plasma. Plasma is like a river that carries the solid cells and platelets to all parts of the body.
They contain special proteins such as albumin and immuno-globulins which are antibodies that fight infection and cancer, as
well as clotting factors special proteins that help blood to clot.

Importance of blood:

Blood contains many life-saving components that can help to treat different illnesses and
injuries. For many patients, blood donors are their lifeline. Blood goes to those having
medical emergencies such as accident survivors; individuals undergoing major surgeries such
as organ transplants; patients with cancers and blood disorders like leukaemia and
lymphomas or severe anaemia; and even new-borns with medical conditions.

The platelets found in blood are used to treat leukaemia patients. A single patient often needs
platelets from 10 or more donors, all within a short period of time. Add to that the short 5-day
lifespan of donated platelets, and you can understand why there is a constant need for platelet
donors.
Blood plays an important role in regulating the body's systems and maintaining homeostasis.
Other functions include supplying oxygen and nutrients to tissues, transporting hormones and
other signals throughout the body
Blood platelets play a role in coagulation (the clotting of blood to stop bleed from an open
wound); white blood cells play an important role in the immune system; red blood cells transport
oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Blood is considered a type of connective tissue because it is made in the bones.
Supplying nutrients such as glucose, amino acids, and fatty acids either dissolved in the
blood or bound to plasma proteins (e.g., blood lipids)
Removing waste such as carbon dioxide, urea, and lactic acid
Immunological functions, including circulation of white blood cells and detection of foreign
material by antibodies

Regulating body pH

Regulating core body temperature

Hydraulic functions, including the regulation of the colloidal osmotic pressure of blood

Common Uses of Blood and Its Components

BLOOD /
BLOOD COMPONENTS

USES

Whole Blood

Rapid and massive blood loss cases e.g. during surgery or for accident victims

Red blood cells

Treatment of anemia
Replace loss of red blood cells in accidents or during surgery or childbirth

Platelets

Treatment for dengue, leukemia and cancer patients

Fresh frozen plasma

Replace clotting factors which may be depleted in bleeding or infection

Blood Donation Process

Blood donation is a safe procedure and easy process. All blood bank staff observe strict hygiene protocols. The equipment used in blood
collection (e.g. needles, swabs, gauze, tubing, etc.) are new, sterile, and discarded after one use. It takes about 45 minutes and up to 90
minutes for apheresis donation. Read on to find out more about the donation process

1) Registration
Your personal particulars will be recorded and you will be asked to fill out a health
assessment questionnaire.

2) Medical screening
A health screener will ask you about your medical, travel and social history to
confirm that you are fit to make a donation, after which your weight, blood pressure,
pulse and body temperature will be taken.

3) Blood test
Your blood haemoglobin level will be checked to ensure that you can make a
donation.

4) Blood donation
Your arm will be cleaned, after which a local painkiller will be applied to ensure
that you feel minimal pain during the donation. The actual withdrawal of blood
takes about 5 to 10 minutes and about 350 450 ml of blood is collected.

5) Refreshments
After the donation, you are advised to rest for 10 to 15 minutes and have some light
refreshments before resuming normal activities.