Blood donation during COVID-19 pandemic: Who can give blood? Precautions and safety measures

02-02-2021

Access to safe blood has been a persistent problem in India. The rate of blood donation in the country amounts to only 1 per cent of the population, and the pandemic only compounded the issue. India faced a huge shortage of blood due to strict social distancing norms, cancellation of various blood drives, and low donor turnout due to COVID-19 crisis. In April 2020, the Indian Red Cross Society raised an alarm that voluntary donation had fallen by almost 100 per cent. While the rate of blood donation declined drastically, the requirement for blood remained constant. Shortage of blood in the past few months is said to be detrimental to those who are in urgent need of blood and blood components, like those with thalassemia and severe anaemia, instances of severe blood loss, road traffic accidents, antepartum and postpartum haemorrhage, and patients needing urgent surgeries. As this became a major cause of concern, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) issued guidelines for safe donation of blood during the ongoing pandemic. It states that blood donation can still be done after following guidelines for the safety of both donors, and the drive organisers. Similarly, the National Blood Transfusion Council (NBTC) also issued guidelines that emphasised the continuity of supply of safe blood and recommended reinstating both outdoor and in-house donations, in compliance with social distancing standards, biomedical-waste disposal rules, and infection control guidelines. Guidelines state that people are at no risk of developing COVID-19 through a blood transfusion or via a blood donation procedure. Moreover, in the last few months, the MoHFW and the state government of Maharashtra have been working on new protocols, encouraging people to donate blood. Having said that, this problem will only resolve if people overcome fear and come forward to donate blood.

Blood donation - The greatest act of giving
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Blood donation is the greatest act of kindness and at a time where the world is facing one of the biggest health crisis, it is fundamental to donate blood and ensure safer donation drives. However, most people are sceptical about blood donation and have many questions in their mind. Dr Lalit Dhantole, consultant - transfusion medicine - Fortis Hospitals, Mulund, answers all your queries that can help you save lives.

Who can and cannot donate blood?
As per the NBTC, blood can be donated 28 days post-COVID recovery or discharge from a treating facility or 28 days after home isolation ends. Moreover, very mild, mild, pre-symptomatic, moderate, and severe COVID-19 cases must be deferred for 28 days from donating blood after discharge from a treating facility or 28 days after the end of home isolation.

What are some of the safety measures that blood donation organisers need to consider?
1. Social distancing measures should be followed at all blood donation sites. These measures include physical distance, restriction on social norms of handshaking and hugging, reducing overcrowding, managing blood donation couches such that one-metre distance is maintained between two blood collection areas, calling donors in a staggered manner.
2. For the collection of convalescent plasma, the guidelines stated that systems should be in place to enable re-entry of cured COVID-19 patients as donors for convalescent plasma for treatment of those affected by the novel coronavirus.
3. Blood donation centres and camp organisers should educate staff and donors on these measures and provide facilities like running water, soap, hand sanitisers, personal protective equipment, color-coded dustbins.
4. hygiene and coughing etiquette must be maintained strictly by all.
5. Also, safe disposal of used gloves, masks, caps, and soiled material should be ensured. Protocols for proper cleanliness of the equipment used during the blood donation should be maintained.
6. Follow procedures for cleaning and disinfecting and increasing the frequency of these activities.

What are the precautions that donors need to take?
For donors it is quite simple, maintain good respiratory hygiene. COVID testing is not mandatory before blood donation, as transfusion-associated COVID is very rare. However, if a person is experiencing fever or sore throat in the past 1/2 weeks, he/she needs to report it before considering blood donation. All donors need to take universal precautions like social distancing measures, wearing masks, and proper hand sanitisation during donation.

Before donating blood, make sure you:
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Drink enough water
Get enough rest
Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol
Avoid heavy physical activity
Eat enough food rich in iron and protein