WORLD BLOOD DONOR DAY 2020 - Risk of transmission of Covid 19 through transfusion of blood and blood components is negligible

• Article By: Dr Madhan Kumar B K, Consultant and Head of the Department- Transfusion Medicine, Gleneagles Global Health City, Chennai 

World Blood Donor Day is observed every year on 14^th June. The day is celebrated to raise awareness of the need for safe blood, blood components and to thank the donors for providing a gift of life. The current situation in India is similar in all parts of the country; all blood centres are experiencing shortage of blood, causing big strain on blood supply due to COVID-19 pandemic. A blood centre that provides safe blood in good quality is a key factor of effective health system.

Covid-19 virus outbreak is primarily transmitted through the respiratory system and risk of transmission through transfusion of blood & blood components is minimal. Therefore, any potential risk of infection transmission by transfusion of blood collected from individuals is theoretical and likely minimal.

Donating blood reduces level of bad cholesterols in our blood, regulates blood pressure and keeps iron level under control. By donating blood, you are not only saving someone’s life but also keeping yourself healthy.

Listed below are the safety measures and process to be followed by blood centres and donors for blood donation during COVID-19        

Safety Measures to Protect Donors and Staff in Blood Centers:

• Staffs and Donors should be required to wear face masks and not to be permitted to enter blood centres/blood camps without face masks.
• Temperature screening should be done for all staff and donors, every day.
• Hand sanitizers should be used frequently throughout donation process and also be available at all touch points within the premises.
• Beds, furniture & other equipment must be spaced out to practice social distancing.
• All donors and staff contact surfaces such as door handles, desk etc. must be frequently disinfected.

Donors Screening Process during Covid-19:

• Donors must be screened for symptoms of Covid-19 such as dry cough, sore throat, difficulty in breathing, fever, diarrhoea, myalgia, and headache.
• Travel history of the donors should be carefully examined; those with travel history to the countries affected by Covid 19 within past 28 days or those residing in infected areas/containment zones should be tested.
• Contact tracing of all donors should be implemented; all donors who have been in contact with Covid-19 positive patient/suspect or their family within the past 28 days must be tested.
• Donors who are tested positive for Covid-19 must be made to defer blood donation for a period of 28 days which is the time required for complete recovery from the disease. Donors could donate for convalescent plasma therapy if the blood donation centre is approved by the MOH for doing such trial study as a part of research.

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