Blood donor's guide

THE BLOOD DONOR'S GUIDE

Giving Blood: A Kind and Selfless Deed.

01

WHY GIVE BLOOD? THANK YOU

A WHOLE BLOOD DONATION…

…takes no time at all:

35 MIN

BETWEEN YOUR ARRIVAL AT THE BLOOD TRANSFUSION CENTRE AND COMPLETING YOUR DONATION LESS THAN

can help up to three people in need

PEOPLE WILL BE HELPED 3

GIVING BLOOD SAVES LIVES

In Luxembourg, we need to collect around 25,000 bags of blood per year to meet our needs. One day you or a loved one may need a blood transfusion.

Donating blood means giving your red blood cells and plasma to help the sick and injured.

DID YOU KNOW?

- A cancer patient who has undergone chemotherapy often needs a blood transfusion several times per week.

- A transfusion is often necessary if a woman loses blood while giving birth.

- Several bags of blood are required for heart operations, transplants and even to care for some newborns.

YOU CAN GIVE BLOOD REGULARLY

Victims of accidents and the sick need blood transfusions every day, which means we need blood donors all year round. By giving blood regularly you can save and improve lives. A woman can donate blood every four months while a man can donate every three months.

WHAT IS BLOOD? 02

Blood is a fluid that carries essential substances through the body: oxygen, protein, vitamins…

An average of 5 litres of blood circulate around the human body but this volume fluctuates depending on the gender, height and weight of each individual.

55 % PLASMA (the liquid part of the blood)

4% WHITE BLOOD CELLS AND PLATELETS

41 % RED BLOOD CELLS

Plasma is the liquid part of blood in which the red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets are immersed. In addition to these cells, the plasma also contains different substances such as coagulation factors, albumin and antibodies, which are particularly useful in many treatments (haemophilia, immunodeficiency, kidney failure, etc).

BLOOD TYPES 03

Red blood cells contain molecules on the surface, which vary from one individual to the next. These molecules can be grouped into different systems, the most well known being the ABO and Rhesus (Rh) blood typing systems. The ABO system distinguishes each individual's blood type while the Rh system defines whether a donor is RhD positive or RhD negative

Each donor will be one of the following blood types:

When it comes to transfusion, the donor's blood group must be identical or compatible with the recipient's blood group.

There are other, lesser known systems that define donor "subgroups".

TRANSFUSIONS OF RED BLOOD CELLS AND PLATELET

People with AB blood are known as "universal recipients" as they can receive blood from all blood groups (O, A, B and AB). On the other hand, people who have O blood are known as "universal donors". O blood can be used in transfusions for any blood type, which is particularly useful in emergency scenarios.

PLASMA TRANSFUSIONS

People with O blood are "universal plasma recipients". They can receive plasma from all blood groups. On the other hand, people with AB blood are known as "universal plasma recipients" as their plasma can be used in transfusions for all patients.

Having supplies of blood that reflect the diversity of Luxembourg is vital as this helps us to treat every illness, regardless of the blood type or subgroup. That's why we're looking for as many donors as possible: it's the best of way of ensuring that the patients' needs are covered.

01

WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR DONATION? 04

First, we advise that you eat something before you come to give blood. In any case, you don’t have to come on an empty stomach! Make sure you're well hydrated upon arrival: plasma contains plenty of water and you lose fluids during the blood donation process. You should remain in the centre for a few minutes after having your blood taken and enjoy the selection of snacks and drinks available.

UPON ARRIVAL

Make sure you have your ID document and donor card at hand. If you don't have a donor card, don't worry, you'll receive one after your first donation.

02

IN THE CENTRE

You will be asked to complete and sign a medical questionnaire and an informed consent form. Before donating, you will undergo a medical interview to assess your current state of health, your medical and surgical history and check that you have not experienced a life event that would exclude you from donating blood (trip to a region associated with risks of falling ill, a tattoo, a cold, etc). See some of the criteria on www.dondusang.lu

These precautions aim to protect both donors and recipients as much as possible.

ABOUT YOUR FIRST DONATION

Your first blood donation is made by appointment and lasts slightly longer than usual: if you're a new donor, you will have the chance to ask any questions you may have and get all the information you need to make your donation in an informed way.

03

BLOOD COLLECTION

We use sterile single-use equipment, so there is no risk of becoming infecting when you give blood. Donating blood is no more painful than simply having your blood taken.

Samples are taken so that tests can be performed in the lab and to heck that you have unknowingly been affected by an infectious disease.

The whole procedure, from your arrival until completion, usually lasts just over 30 minutes.

04

AFTER THE DONATION

You are asked to take a seat and have a snack. Take time to recover for a few minutes!

Your blood is taken at the Centre de Transfusion Sanguine (Blood Transfusion Centre) or at an external collection site. Please bring your ID document and social security card. After your first donation, we will send you a donor card so the identification process is quicker next time.

LABORATORY TESTING 05

Following your donation blood group and detect any anomaly

The tests focus on:

THE BLOOD GROUP

HAEMOGLOBIN

To check for potential anaemia

THE NUMBER OF BLOOD CELLS Red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets

SOME BLOOD-BORNE DISEASES (Hepatitis B and C, HIV, syphilis, etc)

Unfortunately, you may be a carrier of a disease and be completely unaware of it! Therefore, your blood products may not be used once tests have been carried out. In this case, you can no longer donate your blood, either temporarily or permanently.

WHO CAN DONATE BLOOD? 06

Donating blood is a sensible, voluntary, charitable and unpaid act.

Everyone can give blood. You just need to:

…BE IN GOOD HEALTH

…BE BETWEEN18AND70YEARS OLD (60 years old for a first donation)

…WEIGH AT LEAST 50 KG 50KG

… NOT PRESENT ANY RISK OF TRANSMITTING BLOOD-BORNE DISEASES

You are eligible for a plasmapheresis donation until your 61st birthday.

You are eligible for a cytapheresis donation until your 66th birthday.

GUARANTEEING BLOOD IS SAFE TO DONATE 07

The risk of a recipient becoming infected is extremely low. It can happen whenever an infected person donates their blood during a silent period (a period when the laboratory tests do not detect the pathogen causing the disease even though it is present in the body).

To reduce the risks to a minimum:

- We inform the donor of risk behaviour and situations that could cause an infection

- We carry out a medical interview before each donation

- We conduct screening tests on each donation (particularly for hepatitis B and C, syphilis and HIV).

USEFUL INFORMATION

A few examples of behaviour or events that mean we have to temporarily defer your donation include:

- A cold, fever or chill

- Simple gastroenteritis

- If you are taking antibiotics or cortisone

- A dentist's appointment

- General anaesthesia

- A surgical procedure

- A tattoo or piercing

- Having just given birth or be breastfeeding

- Having been scratched by a cat

This safety guarantee is the result of real advancements in the field of blood transfusion. Technological developments in the preparation of platelets and plasma and their derivatives have reduced this risk even more. White blood cells are removed from blood products to further minimise the risk of pathogens.

Travelling is another common reason for being excluded from donating blood. This applies to stays in tropical countries but also to other regions in Europe and the rest of the world. These "exclusions" can range from a few days to several months.

Plasma can be donated upon return from some trips to regions affected by malaria. Find out more information from our Donor Management Service by contacting 27554010 or don-du-sang@croix-rouge.lu.

THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF DONATION 08

There are different types of blood donation: whole blood donation, platelet donation and plasma donation, also known as apheresis.

WHOLE BLOOD DONATION

Each collection contains around 475 ml of blood. The bag of blood is then separated into 3 different products: red blood cells, platelets and plasma. One single donation is enough to help up to three people.

Red blood cells are necessary to treat haemorrhaging and serious cases of anaemia. They are stored between 2 and 6 °c for up to 42 days.

Plasma is used for massive haemorrhages. After preparation it is stored at -20 °c for up to four years. It can be used to make other plasma derivatives such as albumin solutions (for major burns), immunoglobulins (for preventing diseases such as tetanus) and even coagulation factors (for haemophiliacs).

Platelets are needed to treat haemorrhaging, but also for cases of cancer, certain blood disorders and even stem cell transplants. They can be stored for 5 days only between 20 and 24° and must be continuously stirred. Platelets are particularly fragile.

PLASMA DONATION OR APHERESIS

Since a simple blood donation does not cover the needs of all diseases, you can also donate plasma or platelets via apheresis.

Apheresis is a specialised technique that sorts and separates blood components: it only collects what is needed. The advantage of this technique lies in the fact that it retrieves a much higher quantity of the component to be transfused.

Specific equipment is required for this technique. Therefore, apheresis is carried out only at the Centre de Transfusion sanguine (Blood Transfusion Centre), on an appointment basis (mandatory).

These collections are as painless as donating blood. The process lasts slightly longer: around one hour.

Plasma primarily comprises water (90%) and proteins that are essential for the body.

Donors from all blood groups can give plasma.

Once collected, plasma is frozen straightaway to ensure it is properly preserved.

Plasma is the liquid part of the blood and contains proteins that can be used to produce many medicines and drugs . It helps treat a range of patients, particularly haemophiliacs and patients suffering severe immunodeficiency.

DONATING PLATELETS OR CYTAPHERESIS

Platelet donation or cytapheresis leads to the production of a bag of platelets and a bag of plasma.

Platelets are small cells produced by the bone marrow, which play an important role in the coagulation process. They stick together to close wounds and stop haemorrhaging.

Platelets are useful for transplant patients, cancer patients and patients with blood diseases such as leukaemia. A platelet transfusion often takes place after chemotherapy, a treatment that can damage the bone marrow cells.

Platelets can be retrieved from a bag of total blood or by apheresis, mainly from blood group O or A donors. A single platelet donation through apheresis is enough for the transfusion of one or two adults.

INTERESTED?

Contact the Centre de Transfusion sanguine (Blood Transfusion Centre)

( +352 ) 2755-4000

NEW DONORS: transfusion.secretariat@croix-rouge.lu

REGULAR DONORS: don-du-sang@croix-rouge.lu

Once collected, the platelets are stored between 20 and 24°c and are constantly stirred. Platelets have a lifespan of no longer than 5 days. That's why it's impossible to build up a large stock. However, it is essential to have enough collections each day.

AFTER YOUR DONATION 09

After your blood donation, please remain seated for a few minutes and enjoy the snacks and drinks available. Try to avoid standing for long periods or significant physical exertion. Your body will replenish the blood you have given in just a few hours. To speed up your recovery, you are advised to drink water as soon as the donation is over and also in the following hours. This advice is even more important during heat waves.

Donating blood does not involve any particular risk as long as all the conditions are respected and the preventive measures are properly applied.

FEELING FAINT AFTER YOUR BLOOD DONATION?

You are advised to lie down, raise your legs and rest for a few moments if possible. The staff at the Blood Transfusion Centre are to there to help you if in doubt.

THINGS TO AVOID AFTER YOUR DONATION

After your donation, you are strongly advised to avoid:

- Alcoholic drinks

- Driving or cycling for a long period of time

- Standing for a long period of time

- Swimming, scuba diving or violent sports

- Saunas, steam rooms and sunbeds

- Any jobs involving providing safety and security (firefighter, ambulance driver, coach or train driver, etc)

- Putting yourself at risk of falling (working on a roof, on a ladder, etc)

- Working with potentially dangerous equipment (angle grinder, chainsaw, etc)

- Using the arm the blood was drawn from (weightlifting, tennis, etc)

If after a blood, plasma or platelet donation:

- You think there is a risk concerning the transfusion of your blood

- You forgot to give the doctor or nurse an important piece of information

- You develop an infectious illness (fever, skin rash, ganglions, digestion issues, etc)

- You have a reaction (discomfort or a problem with your arm, etc)

Then phone 2755-4000 immediately.

Outside the Blood Transfusion Centre's normal working hours, our teams can always be reached by phone on 2755-4074 or 2755-4055.

PERSONAL DATA AND PRIVACY PROTECTION

During the donation process, you will be asked to answer several questions about your health, lifestyle and travels. These questions help us to determine if you can donate blood safely, for both you and the recipient. In addition, personal data (your address, email, telephone number) is also taken and recorded for administrative purposes so we can call you to attend upcoming blood drives, inform you of biological test results, communicate events organised as part of blood donation promotion or provide you with news about transfusion. This information shall remain confidential and shall not be used for any other purposes. All the medical information concerning you shall be covered by doctor-patient confidentiality.

The medical questionnaires you complete before donating blood are kept for 30 years. The Luxembourg Red Cross is responsible for processing this data. In accordance with the European General Data Protection Regulation, you have the right to access this data, have it rectified or have it communicated to an authorised third party (portability) at any time. Any request about stored data concerning you can be obtained by sending an email to our Data Protection Officer (dpo@croix-rouge.lu).

At each donation, once you have completed the pre-donation questionnaire you are asked to sign what we call an informed consent form.

This means that after obtaining all the information about the blood donation process (information collected and recorded, necessary examinations, benefits for the recipient, risks for the donor and recipient) and receiving satisfactory answers to any potential questions you may have, you are asked to sign a document to formally indicate that you agree to continue with the blood donation process. Your signature also confirms that the information you have provided is true and accurate.

You are entitled to stop the donation before it starts or interrupt the donation at time without any difficulty or discomfort whatsoever.

CONGRATULATIONS!

You are now a member of the blood donor community! By becoming not just a donor but a regular donor, you are actively participating in the chain of goodwill and solidarity helping to save people's lives every day. Spread the word about blood donation among your family and friends!

Plus, contact our teams to find out more about the most suitable donations for your blood type and our changing levels of blood stock. If you would like to host a blood drive at your business, please contact 2755-4000.

CTS LUXEMBOURG CITY

Rte d’Arlon

You can donate blood at the Centre de Transfusion sanguine (Blood Transfusion Centre) in Luxembourg City or at external blood drives hosted across the country

Av. Guillaume

Bd G.-D. Charlotte

Bd JosephII

BdRoyal Av. John F. Kennedy

LUXEMBOURG CITY

Av.Marie-Thérèse Av. dela Liberté Av. de la Gare

Bddela Petruse

Rte d’Esch

Blood drives are also held in Marnach-Clervaux, Colpach, Echternach, Esch-Belval, Ettelbruck, Grevenmacher and Wiltz.

The blood collection calendar is available on www.dondusang.lu.

CENTRE DE TRANSFUSION SANGUINE CROIX-ROUGE LUXEMBOURGEOISE (BLOOD TRANSFUSION CENTRE OF THE LUXEMBOURG RED CROSS)

42, bd Joseph II – L-1840 Luxembourg T. ( +352 ) 2755-4000 I F. ( +352 ) 2755-4001

NEW DONORS:

transfusion.secretariat@croix-rouge.lu

REGULAR DONORS: don-du-sang@croix-rouge.lu

dondusang.lu I croix-rouge.lu