> By Erin Hagan
Every two seconds, a patient in the United States requires blood or platelets for a critical procedure such as a lifesaving surgery, cancer treatment, or the management of a debilitating chronic illness. In fact, blood transfusion is one of the most common hospital procedures. Yet, even with this crucial need, only about 3% of the eligible population donates blood.
National Blood Donor Month is an ideal time to raise awareness about the importance of blood donation and explore some of the innovations that are helping to make the process more accessible.
Dynarex provides a full line of IV & Drug Delivery products, including syringes and sharps containers, to help donation centers and hospitals stay stocked.
Blood Type Basics
Blood types are determined by the presence or absence of specific antigens in red blood cells – and include A, B, AB, and O. While blood donation is a relatively simple process—the science behind it is more complex because each blood type has its own unique characteristics. Here are a few examples:
- Type O blood, one of the most common types, is always in high demand for blood transfusions because more than 80% of the population can receive it.
- People with type O-negative are “universal donors” meaning their blood is compatible with any recipient. Type O is enormously useful in emergency situations where the recipient’s blood type is unknown. Unfortunately, only 7% of the population has this blood type, so it is often in short supply.
- People with AB-negative are the lucky “universal recipients” — and can receive any blood type.
The Transformative Power of Technology
Technological advancements are significantly reshaping the landscape of blood donation— helping to address the critical need for blood donors and the essential task of identifying blood types. Here are just a few innovations that are advancing and improving this field:
Advancing Blood Typing with Microfluidic Chips: Microfluidic chips are small devices that allow a tiny amount of liquid to be processed or visualized. They play a huge role in improving blood typing procedures by matching blood to recipients faster, quickly detecting diseases, and personalizing blood matching for patients. While still in development, these advanced devices are handy for emergencies and remote areas, highlighting their potential in blood donation.  Navigating Blood Transfusions with Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI, with its ability to analyze a lot of data and identify patterns, serves as a valuable tool for sorting through extensive health records and speeding up the process of matching donors and recipients. It also helps medical practitioners to quickly access patient records and facilitate transfusion.  Easing Stress with Mixed Reality Experiences: Mixed reality (MR) is helping transform blood donation into a more pleasant experience, especially for those who fear blood or needles. Using headsets, people immerse themselves in virtual environments while remaining connected to the real world, experiencing soothing settings such as gardens or underwater scenes. This MR experience is available at various blood donation sites nationwide, including New York, Chicago, Houston, and soon, Columbus, Ohio, and Dallas. |
Shaping the Future of Blood Supply
As this new year begins, let’s raise awareness about the transformative impact of blood donation. Technological advancements are helping make it easier and more impactful. The evolving practices emphasize that each person can play a part in supporting the health of others. Together, we move closer to a future with a readily available and stable blood supply for those in need.
