Patients scheduled for surgery may be eligible to donate blood for themselves in the weeks before non-emergency surgery in a process known as autologous donation. If an autologous donation is not used, it is discarded. Family members and friends can also make directed donations. Directed donations are fully tested, so if they are not used by the intended patient, they can be released for use by other patients.

The American Red Cross has created a strong operations network that helps us direct your blood donation to the areas of the country — or the world — where they are most needed. While you can't direct your donation to be specifically routed to military personnel, you can be sure that it will be sent to the areas of most critical need.

It is permissible to specify an individual to receive a donated organ. If the organ is a suitable match for a person who is waiting for a transplant, they can receive the transplant as a gift. You cannot specify a donation on the basis of age, gender, or race. This would bypass the fair allocation system that currently exists.

Identifying information is never exchanged between a cord blood donor and cord blood transplant recipient. The identity of the cord blood donor is kept confidential at the cord blood bank.

Blood you donate here at Hoag begins being processed for use by our patients as soon as you donate. You'll get the satisfaction of knowing you have directly helped another person and a free mini-medical examination including a blood pressure check. An identification card showing your blood group and Rh type will be mailed to you and you will become a member of our Gallon Club when you have given 8 blood donations.

Although the blood supply today is very safe, autologous blood is the safest and most compatible blood for you.

Your physician may recommend autologous blood donation if there is a possibility that you may need a blood transfusion during or after your surgical procedure. Autologous (pronounced aw-TOL-o-gous) blood donation is when you donate and store your own blood prior to your surgery. During surgery, should you require a transfusion, the blood that you donated will be given back to you.

You should donate blood because it's an easy, relatively painless thing to do. The safety of the nation's blood supply is dependent on volunteer blood donors. 60% of the nation's population will require a blood transfusion at some time in their lives. Despite this fact, only 2% of the eligible donors in Southern California participate in blood donation. You'll feel good about doing something for someone else. It's an opportunity to share your good health with others.

You can donate online to Direct-MS through their website or send a tax deductible (in Canada and the USA) contribution to:

Legislation is many provinces ensures complete confidentiality for the donor. In Ontario this legislation is the Trillium Gift of Life Act. Unless the family gives permission for that information to be released, only the immediate family need know about the donation.

The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) is committed to building a strong network and inventory of high-quality cord blood units available to any patient who needs a transplant. We work with expectant parents and public cord blood banks to increase the number and diversity of cord blood units available for patients. We are also committed to improving transplant results for patients. That is why we are conducting a research study on cord blood transplantation and patient outcomes.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus spread by air droplets (from coughing & sneezing), sexually, and by blood contact. In healthy persons it may cause minor flu-like symptoms, cough, sore throat and enlarged glands (resembling infectious mono), or no symptoms at all. It occurs at all ages, and by adulthood, blood tests show that about 50 percent of healthy adults have had the virus (and are now immune to it).

Your body replenishes the fluid lost from donation within 24 hours. It may take up to two months to replace to lost Red Blood Cells.

Ans. Every time you donate a unit of blood at a blood bank, which is a member of the association of Voluntary Blood Banks, you will receive a certificate and a Blood Donation Card. This card can be used by you to get blood from the registered blood bank when you have a need. Also, every time you donate blood, screening tests are done on the blood for jaundice, hepatitis, AIDS etc. Hence, you are able to get screened for these communicable diseases free of charge.

Ans. Anything, but preferably something. Eating light snacks and a drink (nonalcoholic) before blood donation makes you psychologically more comfortable. Drink some liquid like tea, cold drink, juice, etc. to replenish fluid and eat some snacks. All this will be available for you at the blood bank.

Ans. Giving blood is a very simple and straight forward process. On arrival at a blood bank, you will be asked to fill a few details on a donor form. Your medical history will be taken by a medical personnel in an area which provides adequate privacy. Blood Banks routinely take a small drop of blood to ensure that you aren't anemic. After you pass this simple medical screening process, you will be escorted to a blood donation area.

If donors do not direct their gifts to a particular program, The War Amps uses the donation where it is needed most. However, you may direct your donation towards a specific program. When preparing your donation, simply indicate the name of the program you wish to support. Please note, though, that a charity may not issue a receipt if the donor has directed the funds to a specified person or family.

The employer must identify and document the source individual if known, unless the employer can establish that identification is not feasible or is prohibited by state or local law. The source individual's blood must be tested as soon as feasible, after consent is obtained, in order to determine HIV, HBV and HCV infectivity. The information on the source individual's HIV, HBV and HCV testing results must be provided to the evaluating health care professional.

If consent cannot be obtained, and is required by California law, the employer must document in writing that consent cannot be obtained. When the source individual's consent is not required by California law, the source individual's blood, if available, must be tested, results documented and test results provided to the exposed employee. 5193(f)(3)(C)1.

Donations can also be made in the form of group by a class, alumni club or regional chapter. Those who want to make a group gift please consult the Alumni Relations Office for further details. The CEIBS Foundation will regularly send the Foundation's annual report and financial statements to all donors, who are also encouraged to call in any time to make enquire.