PAGE 12 - January 2, 2008
The Newscaster/Nature Coast News
Blood banks get a boost from technology
The process may look old-fash-
important. For donors, Evans says, "It's like
ioned, but today's blood banks are tapping
increasing your charitable donation without
into technology to meet the growing need for
doing anything more." The oxygen-carrying
blood at a time when donors are harder to
red blood cells are the most used of all blood
find. "Many people think it goes directly from
components for transfusion.
the bloodmobile to the hospital, they don't
For a typical whole blood donor, the
have any idea what we do with it in between,"
donated unit is taken back to a hub where it is
says Jill Evans, corporate director for opera-
processed and divided into specific compo-
tions for LifeSouth Community Blood Cen-
nents: red cells, plasma and platelets. When
ters.
it's time for a transfusion at the hospital, a
Technology helps LifeSouth better
patient receives only the specific component
utilize the donors who stop at blood drives or
that is needed. "If you're anemic, you just
visit the centers, while also making that blood
need the red cells, you don't really need the
supply safer for those in need. Possibly the
plasma component or the platelets that are in
first encounter with this new advanced tech-
that whole blood," Evans says. "That way
nology may occur right on the bloodmobile,
three people can be helped with a single whole
where new machines allow for "double-red"
blood donation." The technology that allows
donations. With a technological assist a do-
a donor to just give red cells also works for
nor may give the equivalent of two donations
platelet apheresis, and that technology has
of red blood cells in a single visit. The new
also improved. Platelets, which are respon-
machine takes whole blood from the donors,
sible for clotting, are the blood component
separating out the red cells, and returns the
that is in highest demand.
plasma and other blood components to the
Evans explains that's partly because
donor through the same needle, a process
they are scattered so sparsely in the blood,
known as apheresis.
accounting for less than 1 percent of the vol-
The machines are now small enough
ume of the blood stream. To get one unit of
to fit on the bloodmobiles. "It's allowed us to
platelets for a typical transfusion requires
take automation into the field," Evans explains.
separating the platelets from more than eight
While a regular whole blood donor may do-
whole blood donations, Evans says. And
nate every eight weeks, double-red donors
once outside the body, platelets have the
may donate every 16 weeks, which is a better
shortest shelf life of any blood component,
fit for some donors who are pressed for time.
only five days. But just as the double-red
Currently only about five percent of Ameri-
machines extract only the red blood cells, the
cans donate blood regularly, so saving time
apheresis platelet machines remove only the
and making the donation more convenient is
platelets and a small portion of plasma. Evans
"I will pay your Home Warranty for one year.
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With improvements in the software for the apheresis platelet machines, a donor like Mark
Inglis: 6 acres (MOL) Hwy 40
Subacius from Gainesville is able to give three full units of platelets in a little over an hour.
Platelets are the blood component most in demand, and the improvements have allowed
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the machines to extract the platelets from the bloodstream quicker and more efficiently
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says the software that runs these machines
added to the lineup. Not only are there more
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has advanced significantly, making this pro-
tests than ever before, but those tests can
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cess much faster and more efficient. In some
now detect viruses earlier. In 2000 an improve-
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cases a donor can give as many as three full
ment in the HIV test shrank the window be-
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platelet units in under two hours. And while
tween exposure and detection from 16 days
Shannon D. Adams, Realtor 352-220-9209/cell, 447-1009/home FAX - (352) 795-0282
the apheresis platelet machines are still quite
to 10. A new test implemented in May of this
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730 N. Suncoast Blvd.
bulky, LifeSouth has started taking them to
year narrowed the time between exposure and
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Crystal River, FL
blood drives at businesses and schools,
detection of Hepatitis B from six weeks to 19
where there is space to set up a mobile donor
days. "The advances in the laboratory to
*Hairport*
Coastal
room. "It's been hugely successful for us,
screen the blood for safety are huge," Evans
we never dreamed this was going to go so
says. "The blood is safer because of the level
well," Evans says. And because the body
of testing we're doing."
Perms & Hi-lite
Carting
replaces platelets and plasma much quicker
Evans says the sophistication and
than red cells, a platelet donor can donate
complexity of modern surgical procedures
Star ting - $45.00
Roll-Off Container Service
every 28 days if they wish, Evans adds.
have spiked the need for blood. And while
The biggest technological ad-
modern technology has helped meet that need,
Contractors/Homeowners
Look for the
vances have occurred in the laboratory,
the key is still finding donors.
10-20-30 yd.
where the blood is tested before it is released
"While the advances have made it
return of
Dumpsters
to the hospitals for use. Currently a blood
more convenient and safer, the system still
sample from every unit undergoes nine dif-
relies on the goodness of volunteers to step
Contruction Debris
Lamar soon
ferent tests to screen for seven different dis-
forward," she says.
Yard Waste
ease-causing viruses, including HIV, syphi-
"If you've been a donor in the past,
New Phone #
lis, hepatitis, West Nile and Chagas. Evans
please come back. If you've never donated
says as the U.S. Food and Drug Administra-
blood, please consider it. One hour of your
352-212-0405
tion approves new screening tests, those are
time could make a life-saving difference."
"First Saturday Street Fair" in Dunnellon - morning of Jan. 5th
Clipper Cuts $8
The Historic Village Shops of Dunnellon is having its monthly "First Saturday Street Fair"
Plaza 40 E. Shopping
Locally Owned & Operated
(the first Sat. of each month) on Jan. 5 The Street Fair is a sidewalk sale/ flea market that is held
during the morning in front of the many shops on Walnut & Cedar Sts. and W. Pennsylvania
Licensed & Insured
Center
(Penn) Ave. Directions: Hwy. 40W turns into Cedar St.; Walnut St. is the last street on the left
352-465-5020
Inglis
before Cedar St. dead-ends into W. Penn St. For additional information, call (352) 465-9200.
