|
|
The following text entry box is for a search of frequently asked questions asked by visitors to the site. Please ask your question here and results closely matching your question will be returned. For searching the entire site you should visit the Search page of the site.
|
Why doesn't the Red Cross pay its blood donors to increase the blood supply?
Scientific data shows that people who donate blood for altruistic reasons are the safest blood donors. As an extra layer of safety to the blood supply, Red Cross accepts only volunteer blood donors.
Back to Top Can you contract HIV from donating blood?
No. HIV and other transmissible viruses cannot be contracted through blood donation. The equipment used is sterile and used only once, then immediately discarded, and new needle is used for each donation. Phlebotomists work in a sterile environment throughout the blood donation.
Back to Top What kind of research does the Red Cross conduct?
The Holland Laboratory has strong programs in the basic sciences related to transfusion medicine and carries out development work in support of Red Cross Biomedical Services programs. A scientific staff of more than 250 focuses on:
- Improving the safety and efficacy of blood services in the United States
- Studying the molecular biology of blood and the immune response
- Developing new biomedical products and technologies that will address the health needs of patients worldwide.
Goals include finding improved ways to produce needed therapeutic plasma products, developing methods of eliminating residual infectious agents from tested donor blood, and finding new applications for Red Cross products. The Holland Laboratory has also undertaken collaborative efforts with several biotechnology companies and research hospitals in order to translate our research into the production of lifesaving products.
In addition to the Holland Laboratory, about a dozen Red Cross Blood Services regions are involved in local research and development programs, often in collaboration with universities and large teaching hospitals around the country.
Back to Top How does someone become a tissue donor?
To donate tissue, you can sign a donor card or indicate your decision to become an organ and tissue donor on your driver's license. It is also important to share the decision with your family, because next of kin is always asked for consent of donation.
Back to Top Why does the Red Cross sell blood and blood products that are given freely by donors?
The American Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that supplies almost half of the nation's blood supply by working with more than 4 million donors and 3,000 hospitals. We rely on the generous gifts volunteer blood donors provide us. In order for the Red Cross to make that gift available to patients in need, we must collect, store, test and process the blood. There are significant costs associated with each of these processes, and in order for us to continue making one person's donation available to someone else who needs it, we must charge for the testing and processing of the blood to recoup these costs.
Back to Top
|
