Blood Safety

Blood Safety

The blood supply in the United States is much safer today than ever before. The risk of HIV transmission has been nearly eliminated and the risk of hepatitis transmission greatly reduced thanks to multiple levels of safeguards, including:

• comprehensive evaluation of donors' medical and social history to exclude donors who may be carriers of infectious agents;


• physical examination of the donor;


• strict donation procedures using sterile supplies; and


• laboratory testing.

These procedures are followed by all blood centers nationwide and are monitored under the regulatory guidance of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Only volunteers are permitted to donate blood, and there are no incentives to give. Studies prove that community volunteers are the safest source of blood for transfusion. Every donor completes a health history questionnaire and screening interview to identify behaviors that indicate a high risk for carrying blood borne disease. Strict confidentiality, as well as the absence of incentives or pressure to donate, encourage honest answers and deferral of any potential donor with possible health risks.

Every time someone donates blood, that donor's blood is tested for ABO/Rh blood type and evidence of the following infectious diseases: HIV 1 and 2, Hepatitis B and C, HTLV I and II, syphilis, and West Nile virus. All platelet components are also tested for bacterial contamination. Any unit of blood that shows evidence of infectious disease is discarded, and the donor is notified and deferred from subsequent donation.