Objectives of Blood Banks
Blood banks collect, store, and provide blood. Typically, these banks collect blood from voluntary blood donors. The banks then sort blood by type, check blood to make sure it is free of disease and then store it for future use. The main mission of a blood bank is to provide life-saving blood to hospitals and other health care facilities.-
Acquiring Blood
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Blood banks ask healthy individuals to donate blood. People often donate four to six vials of blood on a voluntary basis. Blood banks may hold promotions or work with health organizations to inspire people to donate blood. Blood banks often give donors snacks, coupons, or t-shirts. Some blood banks even offer a small amount of money to those who donate blood. A blood bank's first priority for blood donation is donors are relatively free of disease and wish to give blood of their own free will.
Testing
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Blood banks must test blood for health. Many diseases are transferable by blood. This includes life threatening diseases such as AIDS. A blood bank never wants to put blood recipients life's at risk because of contaminated blood. Additionally, blood must be sorted by blood type. The blood types are A, B, AB, and O and can be negative or positive. Anyone can receive O blood and individuals with AB blood type can receive any blood type. However, those with A blood must receive O or A blood and those with B blood must receive O or B blood.
Storage
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Blood banks must store blood during transit periods. Sometimes a blood bank will keeps an extra supply of all blood types in case of an emergency. Banks store blood in cold containers; blood may be frozen for long-term storage. Frozen red blood cells can last for up to 10 years.
Providing Blood
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Blood banks typically work with hospitals to provide necessary blood. A hospital may have its own blood bank division for easy access to blood. Other blood banks operate independently and transport blood to hospitals. Providing blood is the main mission of blood banks. Blood helps save lives.
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