Friday, February 27, 2009

Choosing Blood Bank

By Anne Ahira

In time of a medical emergency, it is very common that a patient can require a blood transfusion. Actually, it could be a issue where the blood is really a lifesaving supply .

Have you ever known where the blood comes from? Well, in most issues that blood essentially comes from a blood bank.

A blood bank is where the blood that has been collected is stored. In many cases, there are outside agencies that actually do the collection of the blood. This is then transferred to the blood bank where it is held and stored until it is needed for a transfusion.

The blood that is normally stored in a blood bank is technically named "whole blood." This is essentially blood which is not separated and truly treated with an FDA approved additive. As the blood is amassed, the blood bank truly turns the blood so that it can split.

Then it is chemically treated so that it has a shelf life of 42 days. Additionally, the blood bank will also put the collected blood through a screening process to ensure that it is free of any infections or diseases. This can give the patient and their family great peace of mind during a time that could be quite trying. - 15438

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