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DONATE BLOOD TO BENEFIT YOUR OWN
HEALTH
Donating blood
regularly not only supports a vital community service, it also
provides the donor with a regular screening for many of the
infectious blood-borne diseases that are a common concern in
today's society.
All blood is
first tested for ABO group and Rh Factor determination. The
following is a list of tests that are done routinely on each
unit of donated blood:
1. Hepatitis (4
tests)
a. Hepatitis B
surface antigen: detects a current Hep B infection, if present.
b. Hepatitis B
Core antibody: detects an exposure to Hep B.
c. ALT: detects
a mild form of transmissible hepatitis based on liver enzymes.
d. Hepatitis C
antibody: detects presence of antibodies, which may indicate an
old exposure.
2. Syphilis:
detects for past exposure to syphilis.
3. Anti-HTLV-I
and II: detects past exposure to a virus linked to one type of
leukemia and neurological disorders.
4. HIV testing:
detects the presence of the virus or related antibodies.
5. CMV testing:
blood destined to be given to any immunosuppressed person is
also tested for cytomegalovirus infections, which could
be deleterious to the recipient.
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