Blood transfusions are used to add more blood to a person's bloodstream. They are given when a person's life is threatened by loss of blood. Blood transfusions are often needed for accident victims, surgery patients, and people with blood disorders. Whole blood or blood components can be transfused. Transfused blood may come from volunteer donors or from the patient.

Blood is transfused through a vein. The amount of blood required depends on the amount lost or on the severity of the blood disorder. The patient's pulse, blood pressure, and temperature are measured regularly during the procedure.

In whole blood transfusions, blood types must be compatible with that of the person receiving the blood. If not, red blood cells will rupture and clump, a condition that can result in kidney damage, jaundice and death. This reaction is called a transfusion reaction. Universal donors are people with blood group O. They have blood that is compatible with all other blood types. Blood typing usually takes less than an hour. If a patient is losing blood rapidly, it may not be possible to wait for typing and blood from universal donors may be used. Other alternatives until typed blood is available include transfusing plasma protein solution or artificial plasma.

When there is any sign of reaction to a blood transfusion, the procedure is immediately stopped. A blood reaction usually is not severe. In rare instances, a transfusion reaction can produce shock or kidney failure. Mild symptoms include fever, chills, rash, or delayed anemia. The risk of getting an infection (hepatitis, AIDS, syphilis, or malaria) from a transfusion is very low. Better science and updated laws permit safer screening, testing, and storage of donated blood. In spite of these precautions, some blood carrying HIV does get through. This happens because there is a period of time known as the antibody-negative window. If a donor is newly infected with HIV and unaware, they will not have produced a detectable level of antibodies at the time the blood is donated. As a result, about two dozen of the 12 million pints of blood used each year contain HIV.

Changing technology continues to reduce the risk of getting an infection from donated blood. The safest blood to use is your own. This is called autologous donation. Although there are times when using your own blood is not an option, it is now possible to "recycle" your blood during some surgical procedures. Donated blood is safer than it ever has been.

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