the donor - winter 2007

It’s their lifeline

PlasmaWhy it’s the crude oil of blood

Donating around the globeHow three countries meet the challenge

PlasmaWhy it’s the crude oil of blood

Donating around the globeHow three countries meet the challenge

PLUS � NEWS � LETTERS � AND MORE...

WHYPETEWATERMANSAYS… “You’ll never be more grateful to anyone”WHYPETEWATERMANSAYS… “You’ll never be more grateful to anyone”

NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR BLOOD DONORS WINTER 2007NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR BLOOD DONORS WINTER 2007

Donor18p01-F2.qxp 20/11/07 15:45

Do Something Amazing Online

For easy access

to your donor

records and much

more besides

Join Blood Donor Online, our internet service for current blood donors where you can:

It’s easy to join, just go to www.blood.co.uk and click on the Blood Donor Online link

♥ Update your personal details

♥ Make an appointment to give blood

♥ Check your donation history

♥ Look up medical and travel information relating to giving blood

♥ Find your nearest blood donor session

♥ And get lots more information about donating

Donor18p02-F1.indd 1 19/11/07 12:29:13

4 “You’ll never be more grateful to anyone”Music industry heavyweight Pete Waterman knows the value of donatedblood. It helped save the life of his own son nearly ten years ago

8 Make a date!We are delighted that more and more of you are booking appointments– this means less waiting for you and more efficient use of our resources

9 Viv’s marathon effortVeteran donor and marathon runner, Viv Budd, celebrates

10 Donating around the globeAll around the world countries face particular problems in organising ablood service. We look at how they are meeting the challenges

13 The session must go onHow our staff kept the blood service running, despite the floods

14 “Donors are heroes!”Teenager Bridie Burrell battled with leukaemia for many months. But thanks to a bone marrow transplant, her life is getting back on track

16 Plasma:the crude oil of bloodPlasma is an essential ingredient for hundreds of lifesaving products

20 Over to youCatch up with readers’ letters, plus health Q&As

21 A lifeline for BrookeHow little Brooke is overcoming a devastating blood disorder

23 It’s their lifelineHow regular blood transfusions help thousands of patients

26 Alfred’s lasting gift When Alfred Oldfield died, his family knew what he would have wanted. They carried out his wishes by donating histissues to help others

28 An important seasonal donation Platelet stocks can run low at Christmas. Don’t forget to donate

30 Ask The DoctorAlistair Shepherd with some Do’s and Don’ts for donors

31 CrosswordAnother prize-winning puzzle

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In this issueIn this issueCOVER STORIES

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WRITE AND TELL USyour news, viewsand interesting

or unusual donor stories.

Write to The Editor,

The Donor, NBS,Colindale Avenue,London NW9 5BG

or email [email protected]

The cost of producing, printing and posting each copy of this magazine is less than the price of a first class stamp.The Donor is published by the National Blood Service (NBS) which is part of NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT). Reproduction in wholeor part is strictly forbidden without the prior permission of NHSBT. Larger print versions are available via the website. Design andproduction:Ant Creative (London). Reproduction: Portland Media (London). Printed by The Stationery Office on 100% recycled paper.

WINTER 2007 THE DONOR

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4 THE DONOR WINTER 2007

“You’ll never be moregrateful to anyone”

“You’ll never be moregrateful to anyone”

Music industry heavyweight Pete Watermanknows the value of donated blood.It helped to savethe life of his own son nearly ten years ago

Is it right that your youngerson Pete received blood in1999 when he was 17? Whathappened?Yes. Little Pete had a horrendousaccident at a go-kart circuit whenthe kart he was driving turned over.

COVER STORY

The crash resulted in him beingcovered in petrol and he sufferedmajor burns all over his body. It wasvery worrying at the time.Do you know how muchblood he received?Copious quantities! He was in a

coma for 16 days, so it was adifficult time. He has also hadthree major operations since theaccident which all required bloodduring the procedures. Theblood my son received all helpedtowards his recovery. It makesyou realise how important it is.You featured on the GiveBlood TV adverts to publicisethe need for more blood.What would you say to otherpeople to encourage them todonate now?You’ll never know whensomeone you love needs bloodand you’ll never be more gratefulto anyone. It really could be youwho needs it next. What would you like to say tothose donors who helped yourson Pete?There isn’t anything you can sayapart from to thank them and totell them to continue! Words areFR

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not sufficient. People whodonate are selfless and do it tohelp others. They know that theyare ultimately helping to savepeople’s lives and for that I amgrateful to the millions of peoplewho do it.What sparked your interest inmusic and how did you turn itinto a successful career?I was in the Coventry Cathedralchoir in 1956 and this started my

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5WINTER 2007 THE DONOR

love of music. I had a very musicalfamily so I have always beensurrounded by music. I was alsoinspired by The Beatles and thatspurred me on to become a DJ.Since then I’ve kept myself busyin the entertainment sector andthe rest is history.How many number onesingles have your artists had?Twenty and I’d like another 20! What has been yourproudest moment in yourcareer so far?Still being here after nearly 40years. It really is a fantasticachievement and I hope to behere for a lot longer. Not manypeople even make ten years inthe music industry, so I’m pleasedwith what I have achieved.

Left:Stock,Aitken andWaterman had over 200 hits in the 80s and 90s.Below: Pete with The Sheilas

What plans do you have forthe future? I plan to carry on doing as I am. I have a fantastic group of girlscalled The Sheilas who you mayrecognise in their glittery pinkdresses. They are my currentproject and have a new single outsoon. I’d also like to wake upevery morning and do somethingdifferent.We heard you are a collectorof locomotives? How did thisall start?I was brought up next to a railway

track and they would keepme awake all night. Whenyou live next to a railwayline you either learn to love them or hate themand I loved them! I actuallyown an ever-growingcollection of bothhistorical and commercialrailway locomotives androlling stock. I was also afireman for locomotivesfor a while and thatexperience has fuelledmy passion further. �

“He has also hadthree major

operations sincethe accident whichall required blood

during theprocedures”

LIFE STORYLIFE STORY� Born on 15th January 1947 inCoventry� 1960s onwards – worked as anEnglish record producer,

occasional songwriter, radio andclub DJ and TV presenter� 2001-2003 - judge on Pop Idol andPopstars� 2003 judge on The Rivals, won bygirl band Girls Aloud� 2005 awarded an OBE for servicesto music �

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We are changing the way we deliver yourinvitation letters and The Donor magazine

to you. From November we will be using CitylinkPost to deliver letters from our centre to the RoyalMail. However, the Royal Mail will still deliver themto your door.

The only difference you will see is a change to the‘Postage Paid’ stamp on the top of your envelope,which will show the Citylink stamp. This change willsave on our postage costs. So please look out for thenew envelopes and make sure that you don’t throwthem away as junk mail!�


News Update • News Update • News Update • News Up

Sharon Osbournetook time out of

her busy schedule tohelp us make a newradio commercial toboost blood.Stocks areoften lower over theholiday period so it’sparticularly importantto keep on donating atthis time of year.Listen out for Sharonon radio stationsaround the country. �

We’ve had a great response fromschools across the country who

have been quick to take up the offerof our free educational programme,which was launched to all state and independent secondary schools inSeptember this year.

Give and Let Live is designed toeducate teenagers about blood, organ,tissue and bone marrow donation.Aimed at 14 -16 year olds, there arelesson plans, activity sheets, casehistories, debating topics, games, filmsand other activities.

Dr Tim Wallington, medical director,says, “There is a critical and ongoingneed for donated organs, blood, tissueand bone marrow and the support ofthe public is vital to enable the lifesavingprocedures that are made possible bythese donations.”

He adds, “Give and Let Live gives us an opportunity to work withteachers, who play an important part inchildren’s lives, to shape the views offuture donors and create a newgeneration of lifesavers.” �

Sharon’s seasons greetings Teachers’ kit is a hit

Our chief executive Martin Gorham hasmoved on, and we would like to wish

him all the best for the future. LyndaHamlyn (left) will betaking over as our newchief executive officerin the New Year.

Lynda comes toNHSBT after five yearsas chief executive ofWestminster PCT. �

Changes at the top

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Cord blood is a lifesaver, so we havelaunched a new web site explaining how

pregnant women in the North London area candonate theirs. On www.nhscordblood.co.uk

you can check outthe facts aboutcord blood – whatit is and how ithelps patients –and learn abouthow to make adonation.

Cord blood isnormally thrown away, but at Barnet GeneralHospital, Northwick Park Hospital, Luton andDunstable Hospital and Watford GeneralHospital, specially trained staff, with themother’s permission, take it from the placentaand umbilical cord after the baby is born, to beused for patients.

Cord blood is rich in stem cells which canrestore the function of a patient’s immune andblood systems. It’s an alternative to using bonemarrow, with the advantage of beingimmediately available. �

Calling mums-to-be

Update • News Update • News Update • News Update

Surgeons have carried out the 120,000th transplant to be registered on the UK

Transplant database, launched in 1972. The record-setting patient is Erin Nicks from CountyArmagh in Northern Ireland, who received a newliver at the Birmingham Children’s Hospital inAugust 2007, just weeks before her third birthday.

Erin’s dad Simon, says, “Someone has given our daughter the most precious gift, the gift of life.It is such a selfless act and one which we certainlywill never forget.”

To join the NHS Organ Donor Register call 084560 60 400 or visit www.uktransplant.org.uk �

Transplant record


Blood, sweat and tears Brave members of our staff, plucky donors and

supporters made up a team of 25 runnerswho took part in this year’s GreatNorth Run. We may not havebeen the fastest, but we weredelighted to have signed up new donors in place of the usualsponsors.

In the field was one runner forwhom the race was a very specialday. Completing his third GreatNorth Run was Rev. BrianShackleton, 71, along with his

son, Jon. He says, "My wife died of leukaemia fiveyears ago. She received 307 units of blood during hertreatment and these donations helped extend her lifeby four years. Since her death my family have beencommitted to recruiting blood donors. We've passed

our original target of 307 andnow we just want as manypeople as possible.”

Brian donated 100 units ofblood himself and now wantsother people to take over thebaton. If anyone is interested inrunning for the National BloodService in the 2008 Great NorthRun, please [email protected] �

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It’s taken a while, but in someparts of the country our newappointments system is

starting to really make a difference. Thanks to you, thenumber of appointmentsbooked has nearly doubled overthe past year. Today, almost halfof donations are made viaappointment. The introductionof on-session booking, enablingyou to book your next appoint-ment whilst you are givingblood, seems to be very popular.

But we would like to see thisfigure grow further, to try toreduce waiting times. You see, atmany venues donors often allturn up at once; a few hours laterthere are none. Although we tryto work as fast as possible, oftenwe can’t keep waiting timesdown to a reasonable length.

We really believe if as manydonors as possible made anappointment, the result would bereduced waiting times for all.

Why? Because it would evenout the numbers of peoplearriving through the day, so ourstaff would be busy takingdonations all the time, in anunhurried way. Which meansyour donation experience is alsolikely to be more relaxed.

This doesn’t mean you can’tgive blood without anappointment. Every donor’s gift isvaluable and we would not wantto lose you. However, if the

number of ‘pop-in’ donors werekept to a minimum, we believewe would be able to see eventhose donors much more quickly.

This is because the sessionwould be running moresmoothly, so there would be moreopportunities to fit them in

We have thought of runningappointment only or ‘pop-in’ onlysessions, but depending on howyou like to give blood, (with orwithout an appointment), itwould probably halve the numberof sessions you could go to.

Whilst they are not perfect, the current arrangements andchoice, available at every session,will give everyone as much accessas possible to all our publicsession dates and venues. Webelieve this fits far better intodonors’ ever more busy lives.

So all we are asking is, if you can, please make anappointment to give blood. If notplease still pop in but you mayhave to wait a bit longer thanthose arriving at the same timewith an appointment. �

We are delighted that more and more of you arebooking appointments – this means less waitingfor you and more efficient use of our resources

Make a date!Make a date! APPOINTMENTS

Nearly half of all donations arenow made by appointment

around the donors withappointments.

When you arrive at a sessionwith an appointment, we’ll try tosee you on time. Sadly, we can’tguarantee that we’ll alwaysmanage this, because sometimesevents happen that are beyondour control. But we do guaranteeto do our very best. In any case,you will be seen ahead of those‘pop-in’ donors who arrive at thesame time.

� Over two thirds of you wantto give blood in theevenings or weekends. Infact 40 per cent of regularsand 70 per cent of lapseddonors say they can't givebecause the times areinconvenient.

� Three quarters want a choiceof venues, both near homeand near work/study.

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Viv’s marathon effortViv Budd started donating when she was 18 - and decidedto thumb a lift to make sure she made it on time! Fortytwo years later and she is still as passionate aboutdonating. To mark her 60th blood donation, Viv wanted todo something special so she and her friend, DonnaBreaden, decided to run their 11th London Marathontogether. Instead of just asking for money for their run, Vivwent on to a local radio station and appealed for people’s“money or their blood”. They finished the run in a veryrespectable time, wearing fancy dress. Viv says, “I’mdelighted that so many of my sponsors were true to theirword and have donated blood for the first time.”It’s also Viv’s 60th birthday this year and family and

friends have been asked to sign up to give blood insteadof a present. “It’s the biggest gift you can give whichmoney can’t buy,” says Viv. �

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AROUND THE WORLD

Here in the UK it’staken for granted thatthere is enough safe

blood available when andwhere it’s needed. But in somedeveloping countries it’s a verydifferent story.

According to estimates, onlyone fifth of the 80 million blooddonations given annually arefrom the developing world, yetthis is home to four fifths of theworld’s population. Quite simply,people are dying from lack ofblood. And if they are luckyenough to receive a transfusion,often they run the risk ofcatching an infection due to alack of adequate safety checks.

It’s estimated that between fiveand ten per cent of HIV infectionsworldwide are transmittedthrough contaminated blood. In some areas like Africa, a highpercentage of the population isHIV positive – a huge challengeto those organisations trying toensure safe blood.

Progress in AfricaA main key to safety is havingmore safe voluntary, unpaiddonors. South Africa has runsuch a voluntary, unpaid donorprogramme for many years now,with encouraging results. In factin 1943 it was the first country inthe world to declare that allblood should be given for nofinancial gain.

Donating arounDonating aroun


It has one of the highest HIVrates in the world with anestimated 5.3 million people inthe population infected. Despitethis, donation levels have risen

by 20 per cent in the pastdecade, even though at thesame time the number of donorshas fallen by ten per cent.

The South African BloodTransfusion Service managedthis by concentrating on three elements: recruitment,education and retention.

Youth focusAs well as having a rigorousdonor screening process, there isa focus on the youth population.

“Only one fifth of the80 million blooddonations given

annually are from thedeveloping world,yet this is home tofour fifths of the

world’s population”

All around the world, blood donors are helpingto save lives. But developing countries

face particular problems in organising a blood service. We look at how some

of these countries are meeting the challenges

Left:A UK poster for World BloodDay 2007,with the same designfor the same day in Russia,above

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und the globeund the globe

‘Club 25’ encourages youngadults to give blood at least 20times by the age of 25. But thisclub is about much more thanjust donating. Young peoplealso learn about healthy life

as caps and t-shirts, as it’s aculture that expects a reward fora good deed.

Countries like Tanzania andUganda rely mainly onreplacement donations – theleast safe source of blood (seebox, left). By educating thepopulation about the need forand uses of blood, bothcountries hope to recruit morevoluntary donors and so reducerisk from infection.

But Uganda’s underdevelopedinfrastructure means thecollection and transportation ofblood is also a challenge. Manyroads are impassable in the wetseason, and choked with dust in

Above: Members of the Nigerian BloodService Club 25 programme,whichencourages youngsters to stay HIV-freeand become regular blood donors.Right: A small selection from around theglobe of free gifts to promote donating

styles including first aid, physicalexercise, nutrition and roadsafety. Nigeria, and some othercountries, are also following thisprogramme.

In some places there is

suspicion and misunderstandingabout blood donation. InUganda, illiteracy, combinedwith a belief amongst somepeople that blood has aconnection to bad luck, pain,death and anger, meansvoluntary donor recruitment is difficult . The blood service inUganda is trying to educatepeople to dispell these beliefs. It also offers small gifts such

VOLUNTARY, UNPAID – this is the safest method of blood donation.PAID DONORS – payment could influence how donors answer thehealth check questions, so affecting safety.REPLACEMENT DONATION – this is the least safe method. The patient’sfamily and friends are recruited to donate blood to ‘replace’ that usedfor the patient. These donors have additional pressure from the familyand are more likely to be untruthful, for example if they are trying toconceal lifestyle activities from their family. �

Types of blood donorsTypes of blood donors



the dry season. Delays andcancellations are common andwith few phones and a patchypostal service, communicationwith donors is limited.

But there is good news. After15 years of civil war, Uganda ismanaging to supply nearly everyone of the nation’s 90 hospitalswith almost all of the

Above:A party feeling at a specialdonation day set up to encouragenew blood donors in Tanzania.Left:Nurses joining in the fun at thespecial donation day

donation which is less safe andleads to intense competitionbetween commercial andhospital-based blood banks.

Another difficulty is the lackof reliable equipment. Bloodtesting machines used in Indiaare very poor and many do nothave the capacity to performmandatory tests for blood-borne diseases.

But with the help ofinternational agencies, India islaunching a single bloodtransfusion authority to work toimprove the service in thecountry in the future.

Blood donation is a world-wide issue and the ongoingsearch for safe, new donors is achallenge for every country. But with education, funding,quality and safety measures, and international support, theworld of blood transfusion isgetting safer. �

40,000 donations of blood theyneed each year.

Difficult challengesIn India, every two seconds,someone needs blood. That’s8.5 million donations a year – yetonly about 4.4 million areactually made. The blood servicein India is highly decentralisedand faces problems with funds,staff, vehicles and appropriateinformation, education andcommunication materials. All ofthese factors have knock-oneffects for blood supply at everylevel – collection, storage anddistribution.

One big challenge is that onlyhalf of donated blood is fromvoluntary donors. The rest iscollected by replacement

To provide safe blood, the World Heath Organisation recommendsthat countries follow five key tactics:– Have a nationally coordinated, blood transfusion service.– Use blood from low risk, voluntary unpaid blood donors.– Test all donations for blood group and infections.– Reduce unnecessary transfusions given to patients.– Have a quality system for the entire transfusion process. �

World standardsWorld standards



The session must go onThe session must go onNEWS FEATURE

As record-breakingrain brought floods to many towns thissummer, our staffbattled to keep the blood servicerunning

Waist-high water, roadsclosed and watersupplies cut off.

These were just some of the challenges facing our staff as theybattled to run a service in some ofthe worst-hit parts of the countryduring this summer’s downpours.

In the Cotswolds manysessions had to be cancelled as rivers rose, flooding roads. In Gloucester, the blood donorplanning team hit the phones toalert venue organisers and donorsthat sessions had been cancelledbecause water supplies had been shut off.

But staff were quick toorganise alternative venues, andwith the help of extra publicity,managed to attract donors whowere still able to travel to venuesthat had managed to open.

A month earlier there had beenproblems for our Sheffield bloodcentre, which is one of our 14regional headquarters andresponsible for supplying 27hospitals across South Yorkshireand the East Midlands.

As the rain kept falling, thedam wall at Ulley Reservoirthreatened to breach and the M1was closed for three days, causingchaos for commuters and ourSheffield transport team.

So, on Tuesday 26 June, ourEmergency Plan was launched.Staff needed to guarantee thatthe blood donated at sessionscould get back to the Sheffieldcentre to be tested, processed

and issued to patients as usualand without a hold up.

This meant all staff workingclosely with the transport team to make sure deliveries weremade and stocks moved betweenother blood centres, to preventany shortages.

All blood that was returned tothe centre was processed, thanksto the dedication of staff whostayed late or worked throughthe night to make sure all the

team members waded throughchest high water, hoisting theblood transportation bags used to carry the precious donationsabove their heads. They reachedthe safety of a nearby McDonaldswhere they were rescued by oneof our drivers.

We were certainly tested by theconditions, but staff across thecountry worked hard and despitethe disruption and thanks to donor dedication, bloodcontinued to get to hospitals.Even in the worst-hit areasroutine deliveries were either on time or no more than a couple of hours late, and allemergency deliveries arrived athospitals on time. �

Heavy rainfall in Yorkshire,top,and Wiltshire,above,causedwidespread problems

testing was completed. Butclosed roads meant 50 staff weretrapped until late in the eveningand some ended up spending anight at the centre!

Out at sessions there weresome truly hair-raising moments.The Sheffield bloodmobile had tobe abandoned in the floods, and

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Teenager Bridie Burrell battled with leukaemia for many months. But thanks to a bone marrow

transplant, her life is getting back on track

PATIENT STORY

“Donors are heroes!”“Donors are heroes!”T he December 2004 school

vacation turned out to bea particularly memorable

one for 17-year-old Bridie Burrell.But not in a good way.

“It was funny because duringschool term, I felt completelyhealthy. But during the holidays, justbefore the New Year, I experienceddizziness, and just walking to thebathroom would feel like I’d run amarathon. I thought it was just acold, but when I turned a bitgreenish and didn’t eat for a fewdays, my parents sent me to the GP.”

Bridie’s doctor also suspectedflu, but because her grandfathersuffered from diabetes, he ordereda blood test. That turned out to bea good idea. “During the testing I fainted and ended up in thehospital for three weeks. I receivedthree units of blood in the first 12hours because my haemoglobinlevel was just four.”

Serious illnessBridie had Acute LymphoblasticLeukaemia, a devastating blooddisease that develops when thewhite cells of the blood go intooverdrive, dividing too fast and overproducing (see box). Six months of intensivechemotherapy followed, alongwith the side effects. Bridie lost herhair and appetite, and felt tiredand sick all the time.

“The steroids I was on made meeat like a pig on some days. I alsogot upset very easily. If I woke up

early in the morning and no-onewas up yet, I would cry.”

There were more tears whenBridie learned that her chemo-therapy was not working, and thatshe needed a bone marrowtransplant. None of her family

members was a match, so doctorssearched the international bonemarrow registers. Luckily, a matchwas found in just four months, andBridie had her transplant inSeptember 2005. But that was notthe end of her problems.

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“Shortly after I was discharged, I was back in the hospital for anemergency operation forsepticaemia. Then I was in hospitalagain for two months beingtreated for pneumonia.”

Lonely timeBridie lost not only her health butalso her way of life whilst treatmentwas going on. An avid netballplayer who was on the schoolteam, she could no longer takepart. Hanging out with friendsbecame a once-every-six-monthsevent because her parents worriedfor her health. Being a teenagerwho can’t meet friends is tough,and it was a lonely time for Bridie.

But there was an upside to it all.“My illness brought the family

together. In the past my brothersand I had days where weabsolutely hated each other; thenthere were the usual fights andhitting of each other. But we’vebecome closer and stopped

arguing over petty things.My parents have also turnedinto my friends.”

Bridie has also developeda soft spot for childrensuffering with cancer,because of all the time she’shad to spend at the RoyalMarsden Hospital. It washere that she saw manyyoungsters undergoingintensive chemotherapy,and noticed how toyscould distract them asthey endured theunpleasant treatments.

So last Christmas andEaster she took presents,bought with her ownpocket money, topatients at the children’sward at the RoyalMarsden. She plans todo it again – it’s her way

of showing the children support,because she knows what it’s likebeing kept in hospital whilsteveryone else is enjoying thefestive fun at home.

Back to the old lifeToday, life is looking much betterfor Bridie, and she’s beginning toget back her old life. She’s catchingup with friends, and her father hasbuilt a swimming pool in thegarden so she can start exercisingagain and build up her strength.

Previously on a cocktail of 14different drugs, she is now on justthree. “I was emptying a cupboardfull of drugs with my dad, and Isaid, ‘This is such a milestone, weshould have a party!’ It felt good toget rid of the big bag of medicine.

“There’s a video of me recordedafter the transplant, and I lookedmiserable because I thought myillness should have ended, whichwasn’t the case. Looking backnow though, I really should havebeen more grateful that I even gota match. Donors are heroes in theirown right, and they probably don’trealise what a big deal their act ofgiving is to those who receive it.”�

What is AcuteLymphoblasticLeukaemia (ALL)?

� ALL is a blood disorder in which

the white cells, lymphocytes, grow

and divide in the bone marrow

too quickly.

� Because these cells don’t mature

like normal white cells do, they can’t

protect the patient from infection.

� The cells also overproduce, filling

up the bone marrow so there is no

space for red cells and platelets.

The patient can become severely

anaemic and prone to bruising

and bleeding.

� The condition is rare – 600 adults

are diagnosed with ALL in the UK

each year. It occurs more frequently

in children under 15.

Bridie,left,by the new familypool built to help her exercise,and,right,sewing is a hobby

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Plasma doesn’t just playa vital part in blood transfusions. It’s an

ingredient for hundreds of medical productsthat help thousands of people every day

BLOOD FACTS

Plasma is a complex mixture of over 700 proteins and other

substances which are crucial forthe smooth running of our bodies. When extracted, theseproteins and substances becomekey ingredients in medical products designed to replacebody fluids, antibodies and clotting factors. Plasma is quitesimply a lifesaving resource thatbenefits thousands of peopleevery day.

As the largest singlecomponent of blood, plasmamakes up about 55 per cent oftotal blood volume. It’s a clear,straw-coloured liquid, mostlymade up of water, in whichplatelets, red and white cells arecarried. It provides a ‘storagearea’ for fluids for the body,helping maintain blood pressureas well as cooling and warmingthe body.

Plasma:the crude oil of blood

Plasma:the crude oil of blood


Once separated from bloodcells, plasma for patient use goesin one of two directions.

It can be used for bloodtransfusion as fresh frozenplasma and other transfusedplasma products. Or it can be directed to a plasma fractionation plant to undergo amore complicated type of

Above:Plasma is separatedfrom whole blood using aspecial press.Right:Cohnvessels at BPL,this country’sonly fractionation plant



processing to separate out itsmany individual proteins.

Vast arrayIn much the same way that crude oil is separated into itscomponent parts to makedifferent oils, a fractionationplant breaks down plasma into avast array of substances that canbe used to make all sorts ofmedical products.

These products can be

grouped into three main types:coagulation factors, humanalbumin solutions andimmunoglobulins.

Coagulation is the name forthe complex process of bloodclotting. For this process to besuccessful a person needs all theclotting (coagulation) factors –proteins that work together withplatelets to clot blood.

Missing one or more of thesefactors leads to blood clottingdisorders. The best known ofthese is haemophilia, a hereditarydisease that affects almostexclusively males, who aremissing one of two clottingfactors, either Factor VIII or FactorIX. The commonest treatment for people with haemophilia is replacement therapy – literally replacing the missingclotting factor.

There are many otherdeficiencies such as vonWillebrand disorder, and rareclotting disorders such as Factor VII, X, XI and XIII, that

are also treated using plasmareplacement therapies.

Albumin is the most abundantprotein in blood plasma and isresponsible for helping to cleanthe blood, carry substances andmaintaining the right amount offluid circulating around the body.

If the circulation is workingcorrectly, all the vital bodyhormones, cells, enzymes and soon are transported to the rightparts of the body to do their job.

Correct fluidsBut if it’s not at a normal level,the circulatory system starts tobreak down with seriousconsequences such as fluidsbeing retained in the cells.

The problem can be correctedby using human albuminsolution to ensure the rightamount of fluid is circulating inthe blood stream. People with

Inside the control room;fractionation is a highlyautomated process

“Plasma isquite simply a

lifesavingresource that

benefitsthousands of peopleevery day”



liver or kidney disease andpatients who have lost fluid such as burns patients all benefitfrom albumin.

Rabies remedyImmunoglobulins are part of ourimmune system. They areantibodies – proteins producedby the body to fight invadingviruses or bacteria as they enter the body.

Two diffent types ofimmunoglobulins are producedfrom plasma, specific and non-specific. Those containing highlevels of a particular antibody(specific) can be given to peoplewho have been exposed to aspecific infection to give animmediate, though temporaryprotection. The antidotes totetanus, rabies, chickenpox,hepatitis B, and Anti-D are allexamples of such products.

Immunoglobulins containinga wide variety of antibodies(non-specific) are given topeople who make faulty, or noantibodies of their own. They are

A staff member steaming aprocess vessel prior to use

also given to people havingtreatments (such as for cancer)that harm their ability to makeantibodies.

People who are born with afaulty immune system depend

on these products for life. To make sure most of theeveryday antibodies are

The only plasma fractionationplant in England is BioProducts Laboratory (BPL)which is based just outsideLondon. It was formed in 1950by the NHS to providetheraputic plasma-relatedproducts to treat patients.It now processes more than400,000 litres of donated USplasma each year. Picturedright are some of the manyproducts made by BPL. �

The plasma plantThe plasma plant



Susan Matthews, 28, is theproud mother of two children –Thomas, 2, and one-year-old Ella– but she needed a little helpfrom plasma to become a mum.

Susan, who is rhesusnegative, was given a plasmaAnti-D injection at 28 and 34weeks during both herpregnancies. These were to stopher adversely reacting to redblood cells that may havecrossed the placenta from herbaby and into her blood stream.

Anti-D safely removes baby’sred cells from the mother’sblood stream. If these red cellsare not removed, complicationscan occur during the pregnancy,and in future pregnancies.

The Anti-D injection is widelyrecognised as the single mostsuccessful advance in modern medicine to reducebaby deaths. Without it, ten per cent of

pregnancies in women whose blood is rhesusnegative would have complications. �

Anti-D:protecting future livesAnti-D:protecting future lives

contained in a single dose of the immunoglobulin product,10,000 donations of plasma arepooled together.

Safety firstA plasma fractionation plantdoes not look like an oil refinery!It’s more like a pharmaceuticalplant. Plasma is first tested forviruses to be sure that it’s safe touse, in just the same way thatwhole blood is tested.

Then, depending on theproduct to be made, itundergoes many chemical and

physical processes, such asspinning and heat treatments toseparate the individual proteins.

The fractionation processtakes place in huge Cohn vessels,named after the ‘grandfather offractionation’ Dr Edwin Cohn.Cohn was the first person tobreak down blood plasma toisolate a protein called albumin inthe 1940s. The fractionationprocess is a fully automatedsystem and takes up to five daysto complete.

Solvent/detergent treatment,dry heat treatment, filtration and

pasteurisation are also used tokill or remove any viruses thatmay be present. All of thefinished products undergofurther testing to make sure thatthey contain the right biologicalmake-up.

Once the processing andtesting is complete, the productsare labelled, coded and packedready to be used by hospitals,clinics and GP surgeries. The total number of productsthat can be made with plasma fractionation runs intohundreds. Amazing! �



OVER TO YOU

This is your chance to tell us your news, views and interesting or unusual donor stories. Write to The Editor, The Donor, NBS Colindale Avenue,London NW9 5BG or email [email protected]

GOOD RESOLUTION!As 2007 draws to a close, you may be asked what your

New Year’s Resolution will be.A few years ago I told absolutely everyone I knew that

I’d start giving blood! That included all my colleagues atthe fire station where I work. I even named the date andvenue - so there really was no going back on my word.Since then, I’ve been a regular donor and have donated13 times.The hardest part was attending for the first time

since I didn’t know what to expect, butthe staff were fantastic and I now wishI’d gone many years earlier instead ofwaiting and putting it off.

So, keep this letter as a reminder, and be resolute!MICHAEL ROWLEY, OLD WINDSOR

��STAR LETTER��

��

Best of threeI proudly wear my bronze andsilver awards every day. I am giving my 50th donation soon,so I phoned to see if I couldreceive a matching 50th brooch-type badge. I was told thesewere no longer available, onlypin badges were used, but youwould look to see if any of theold type were still around.Within five days I had a small

package delivered to my door, a50th brooch badge. I now havethree matching awards. Youhave made my year. I thank youfor taking the time and troubleto deal with my strange request.I will wear all three with pride.MICHAEL HEAD, GUYHIRIN, BY EMAIL

EDITOR’S RESPONSE: You are obviously a committed andlong-standing donor. We areglad to hear that we were able to find you a badge to complete your trio of awards.

Making a differenceI read with interest the articleabout Mike Austin in theSummer 2007 edition of TheDonor. The story struck a chordwith me as I too ended up inLeighton Hospital last summer

after being involved in a collisionbetween my motorbike and acar. Fortunately my injuries werefar less severe than Mr Austin's –I suffered a broken ankle and afew cuts and bruises. I was sorryto hear that Mr Austin lost partof his leg.It is good, however, to readabout how our blood donationsare being used, and that donating can make a real difference. Please pass on mybest wishes to Mr Austin.KEVIN STONE, BY EMAIL

EDITOR’S RESPONSE: Thank youfor taking the time to write into The Donor to express yourgood wishes to Mr Austin. Wehave passed your message onto him and we would like totake this opportunity to say

A STAR LETTER ischosen for every issue.The winner will beinvited to a behind-the-scenes tour of a BloodCentre. He or she willdon a white coat andsee what happens to adonation of blood. (Youmust be 16 or over.)

“I wish I’d gone years earlier to donate”

EDITOR’S RESPONSE: We couldn’t agree more! Please keep up the good work especially at this time of year when blood stocks typically drop.

Donor18p20&22-F1.qxp 20/11/07 18:14 Page 2


A lifeline for Brooke Brooke Cornwell is only two but she’s already had 27 blood transfusions.She was born with a cleft palate and triphalangeal fingers (she has fivefingers and no thumbs on each hand), but doctors soon discovered she hada much more severe problem. She had a low haemoglobin level and wasreferred for tests on her bone marrow. These revealed that she hadDiamond Blackfan Anaemia (DBA), a rare blood condition caused whenbone marrow fails to produce red blood cells. Brooke was given bloodimmediately and has been having regular transfusions ever since. She nowneeds blood every three to four weeks to survive. Grandmother, Christine,says, “Brooke’s life is dependent on the blood that she receives, whichmakes blood donors so special to us.” �

��

��

Donor18p21-F1.qxp 20/11/07 18:26 Page 1


OVER TO YOU

IS IT TRUE THAT...

that we hope that you havemade a full recovery after yourroad accident.

Who donates more?I started donating blood as soonas I was old enough, and onlystopped for pregnancy; now I amapproaching my 50th donation. I wonder if there is a difference inthe number of men and womenwho reach 50+ donations. I knowthat women have to stop whenpregnant, but are men generallyless healthy? Do they have to stopbefore they get into high donation figures, or do more menget there than women?JEANETTE CHEETHAM, BEDFORD

EDITOR’S RESPONSE: Amongst ourdonors who manage to reachthe higher donation mile-stones there are always more

male than female donors. Atthe 50th award 65 per cent aremen. As the denominationsincrease this percentageincreases. So you guessedright, it is harder for women toget there than men.

Too much red! I find The Donor informative,but to those of us who tend toblench at the sight of tomatosauce in the wrong context, therelentless blood red that greetsus on every page is just a teensy-weensy bit stressful. Could youpossibly de-emphasise it?ROGER HAWKINS, BY EMAIL

EDITOR’S RESPONSE: We are verysorry to hear that we havebeen overdoing the use of redin The Donor magazine.Hopefully you will find this

issue a little better. However,we do have a particularemphasis on the colour red aspeople associate that colourwith giving blood.

Calling older donorsI am a doctoral student studyingthe history of blood donation inLondon between the 1930s and1970s. I am keen to speak toanybody with memories of giving blood in or aroundLondon then. If you would beinterested in either speaking toor writing to me about anymemories I can be reached [email protected] oron 07811 265 275 or by writingto Nick Whitfield, DarwinCollege, Cambridge, CB3 9EU.EDITOR’S RESPONSE: We wish youluck with your research. �

QDoes giving blood affectmy cholesterol level?

AThe amount of cholesterol inyour blood donation is not

enough to affect your cholesterolreading,and is quickly replaced backto the pre-donation levels,withinabout 12 to 24 hours.

QI give blood regularly andunderstand that

haemoglobin levels takemany weeks/months to getback to normal.Is it safe togive blood just before goingon a fairly demandingwalking holiday?

AHaemoglobin is very importantblood component because

it carries oxygen round the body.But for the average person,

We reply to some of your questions about donatingdonating blood just before an activeholiday shouldn’t be a problem,provided you have not alreadydonated three times in the last 12months and you are not irondeficient.Haemoglobin levels will belower than normal for a few weeksafter donation but this should notaffect your fitness levels.

QIs all the blood that isdonated in the UK used

in the UK?

AAlmost all of donated blood isfor the use of patients in the UK.

There are some small amounts sentabroad for use by our armed forcesand also some extremely rare bloodgroup donations that have beenspecially matched for patients livingoutside the UK.

QI've been donating forover a year now, and at

each session I haveexperienced some difficultydonating.On my last visit Iwas unable to make a fulldonation as my blood wasrunning too slowly, andended up stopping.I was toldit was because I might havenarrow veins, is this right?

AIf you are cold, if a needle is notpositioned in the vein centrally,

if a bruise develops or if the veins aresmaller than average, it may not bepossible to make a full donation.However, if you have been successfulin the past, then please don’t bediscouraged by last time and do tryand come back again.�

Donor18p20&22-F1.qxp 19/11/07 21:40 Page 4

For most patients who need blood, a transfusionis a vital, but one-off,

treatment, perhaps after anoperation, accident or illness. Butfor others, blood transfusionsare, literally, a way of life.Without regular red cell

transfusions every four to sixweeks, these patients would die.

But with the help oftransfusions, blood dependantpatients, from as young as sixmonths old, can live a full andactive life.

Why regular transfusions?We all need to produce enoughnormal red blood cells to carryoxygen around the body. When


It’s their life-lineBLOOD FACTS

It’s their life-lineEvery day, blood you have donated is helping

thousands of patients who are dependent on regulartransfusions to survive and lead a normal life

the red cell production is reducedor when the cells are continuallydamaged in the circulation, thehaemoglobin level falls. Thisresults in oxygen starvationwhich causes anaemia.

If someone is anaemic theyfeel tired, lethargic andbreathless, and have difficulty in carrying out even the mostbasic physical activity. A bloodtransfusion can reverse theseeffects, giving patients a newlease of life.

After a transfusion, a patient’shaemoglobin level goes up and

they start to feel much better andare able to do normal everydaythings. Unfortunately, this effectdoes not last forever. Red cells livefor only a short time. As the cellsstart to die there is a gradual fallin haemoglobin levels to thepoint where the anaemicsymptoms return.

Hence, the transfusions needto be repeated at regularintervals. Without regular bloodtransfusions, patients with

Patients of all ages may requireregular blood transfusions

The differencebefore and after a

transfusion isstaggering.“Regular

transfusions aremy lifeline.I haveso much,muchmore energy”



diseases such as thalassaemiaand sickle cell would not survivebeyond the age of ten.

Patients who need regulartransfusions might typically visittheir local hospital at least once amonth to receive blood. In the run

up to a transfusion patients sufferfrom the usual side effects ofanaemia including dizziness,feeling weak and breathlessness.

CANCER PATIENTS – if a patient’s bone marrow isnot working properly because of the cancer, ordue to the treatment itself.ELDERLY PATIENTS – develop myelodysplasticsyndrome where their bone marrow is notfunctioning properly.SICKLE CELL AND THALASSAEMIA MAJOR PATIENTS– hereditary blood disorders.

KIDNEY PATIENTS – people whose kidneys do notproduce erythropoietin, a hormone which helpsred blood cell production.RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS – medicationssuch as steroids can cause chronic gastric bleedingor suppress the bone marrow where blood cellsare made. �

Who needs regular transfusions?Who needs regular transfusions?

Many patients say that theyoften feel poorly on the day ofthe transfusion, partly because ablood transfusion is due, but alsobecause of the effort involved inplanning and getting to hospital.

The difference before andafter a blood transfusion isstaggering for many patients.“Regular transfusions are mylifeline. I have so much moreenergy,” Is how one patient putsit. Patients tend to plan their livesaround their transfusion day.Weddings, parties, holidays areall scheduled for a week or soafter the transfusion, whenenergy levels are at their best.

DrawbacksAlthough blood transfusion is lifesaving, it is not without risks. A major hazard is sensitisation,which happens when thepatient’s immune system starts torecognise the blood being givenas ‘foreign’ and reacts to it.

The more blood a patientreceives, the greater the chances of this occurring. Aserious, or even fatal, transfusionreaction can then follow if theblood is not carefully selectedand cross-matched.

After a transfusion a patient’shaemoglobin level goes up andthey start to feel much better



To do this, a sample of thepatient’s blood is analysed todetermine the blood group andcheck it for compatibility with thedonor blood. In some casesspecial blood products are given,to reduce the risks further.

Red cells are a very rich sourceof iron. So another hazard fromregular transfusions is too muchiron building up in the body’stissues. This is because patientsare getting iron from two sources- their diet and transfused blood.

The body has difficultyregulating this. This ‘ironoverload’ can damage vital organsand eventually make them fail. To

prevent this, an ‘iron carrier’ drug isgiven to all patients receivingregular transfusions. It removes theexcess iron via their urine and

Nisa Karia, 30, wasdiagnosed with thalassaemiamajor when she was just fivemonths old. This rare blooddisorder means that shecannot produce normalhaemoglobin for her redblood cells and so she relieson donated blood to survive.

“Growing up needingtransfusions was hard forme, but really it was just partof life. I always tell myselfthat there are plenty ofpeople out there who areworse off,” she says.

Although Nisa hasreceived 1,300 units of bloodso far, and needs bloodtransfusions every threeweeks, she has not let her condition stop her fromrealising her dream of working in London’s fashionindustry, after graduating from Leeds University.

“Thanks to wonderful people who give blood Ilead a full and active life and am looking forward togetting married next year.” �

Just a way of life for NisaJust a way of life for Nisa

New passportA new blood passport scheme isbeing tried out in East Anglia,which allows regular bloodrecipients to keep a copy oftheir transfusion records withthem at all times.

This could be vital if they’re inan accident or fall ill suddenly. Italso helps communicationbetween doctors, patients andhospitals. �

faeces. This drug is usually given bya slow infusion under the skin. Aninfusion pump is used about fivenights a week and it takes about sixto eight hours each time.

One other potential risk forpatients is infection from theirtransfusions. But with the carefulselection of donors and byrigorous testing and processing,blood donations are kept as safeas possible. As a result suchinfections are very rare.

As you can see being blooddependent is not an easy life, butwithout blood donors, literallythousands of people would nothave a life at all. Amazing. �


When Alfred Oldfield died suddenly,his family knew what he would have wanted.

By offering his tissues for the benefit of others,his family has carried out his wishes

and helped many seriously ill patients

TISSUE DONATION

A lfred queued in thelocal post office withhis daughter Irene

Jessop (pictured below) andcasually picked up a leaflet.Little did he know it, but thisdecision started a process whichwas to give great comfort andpride during a painful and difficult time for his family.

Irene explains, “We werewaiting in the queue and Inoticed that dad picked up adonor card leaflet. I didn’t thinkanything of it until, during aquiet coffee later in the day, hegot it out and asked me what Ithought about donating organs.

“I think he was really keen onthe idea of helping people; hejust needed some reassurance. It was probably because he was


Alfred’s lasting giftAlfred’s lasting gift

a very proud man, especiallyabout his appearance. I work fora funeral directors and so I wasable to tell him that donors aretreated with a lot of respect andhe had nothing to worry about.About a month later I askedhim whether he had filled in theform. He had.”

Years passed but that oneconversationwas to provevital. Then lastDecemberAlfred, 82, diedunexpectedlyafter just two days inhospital.

“It was verysudden indeed;he only went in

Every year around 3,000 lives are saved with the help of donatedorgans. Latest figures show over 7,000 patients are waiting for anorgan transplant.

Tissues such as skin and heart valves can also save lives, whilstcorneas and bone can dramatically improve the quality of life ofpatients. Although to become an organ donor a patient must havedied in hospital, this is not the case for tissue donors.

Their tissues can be donated up to 24 hours after death. A singledonor could improve the lives of up to 30 patients. �

Donated organs and tissues: the factsDonated organs and tissues: the facts

“I’m soproud dadhas been

able to helpothers”

to the hospital on the Tuesdayand was gone by the Thursdaymorning,” says Irene.

There is a great need for bothorgan and tissue donors in theUK, so Alfred’s details werepassed on to a specialist team.This team has the sensitive taskof contacting the next of kin and

Donor18p26&27-F1.qxp 20/11/07 18:38 Page 2


the roof tops and tell everyone tothink about it very seriously. Youmight need it,” says Irene.

All of Alfred’s family now carrydonor cards. They alsoencourage others to think aboutbecoming donors, not just bycarrying a card but talking abouttheir wishes with their closefamily, just like Alfred did withIrene. In many cases people areable to donate from childhoodright through into old age, sohelping some of the thousandsof people in the UK who arewaiting for an organ or tissuetransplant to improve or evensave their lives. �

The Oldfield family:carryingout Alfred’s wishes helped themduring a difficult time

difficult time it was a pleasure totalk to her.”

The final decision rested withAlfred’s wife, however, so Irenetalked with her mum aboutwhether to honour Alfred’swishes. Mum, Irene and hersister talked together and allagreed that they wanted Alfredto be able to help people bybecoming a donor. As a result hedonated bones and skin.

“He was a very generousperson in life, always willing tohelp someone out doing oddjobs or whatever. It makes mefeel very proud that even afterdeath he is still able to helppeople across the country andgive hope to other families. It justmakes me want to shout it from

� Bone – used in orthopaedicprocedures for pain reductionand improving mobility. Canalso prevent limb amputationin patients with bone cancer.

� Corneas - used to treatsevere eye disease or injury.

� Heart valves - provide life-saving transplants to correctcongenital defects or treatdiseased and damagedvalves.

� Skin – vital for treatingsevere burns victims.

� Tendons and meniscus(cartilage) - used to treatpatients with badly-damagedknee joints, usually followingsporting injury. �

Tissues andtheir usesTissues andtheir uses

asking if they will give permissionfor their deceased relative tobecome a donor. The team dealswith around 2,000 cases eachyear. Of these about 20 per centbecome donors. The other casesare either refused by relatives orthe donors are, sadly, not foundto be suitable.

Irene says, “We left thehospital in the morning and laterthat evening we got a call fromthe donor co-ordinator asking ifdad could be a tissue donor. Shewas very easy to talk to andoffered her condolences, with nopressure to make a decisionstraight away. In fact even at a

To join the Organ DonorRegister call 0845 60 60 400

Donor18p26&27-F1.qxp 20/11/07 18:40 Page 3

Certain cancer treatments,such as chemotherapy (whichhampers the bone marrow’sability to make blood cells), blood diseases like leukaemia ormajor operations can all affectplatelet numbers.

A patient may need dailytransfusions of platelets if their

28

Many patients rely on platelets as part of their treatment. But with a short shelf life,

platelet stocks can run low at holiday times.So please, make sure you don’t forget

to give this Christmas

PLATELETS

An important seasoAn important seaso

THE DONOR WINTER 2007

count is low, and the treatmentmight continue for weeks.

Platelets are kept in gaspermeable packs to enable themto ‘breathe’. They are stored atbetween 20-24ºC. They alsoneed to be gently rocked all thetime, to prevent them clotting inthe bag.

Holidays often createproblems for our bloodsupplies; people get sick,

or go away, which means fewerdonors. This regular challengehits red cell supplies, but main-taining supplies of platelets iseven tougher, because of theirshort shelf-life.

Thousands of patients rely onplatelets for their treatment, andthat need doesn’t vanish justbecause of the holidays.

Platelets are tiny cell fragmentsin the blood, whose job is to helpit clot. Made by the million in thebone marrow, they are releasedinto the bloodstream where theycirculate around the body.Platelets usually survive for ten tofourteen days before either beingdestroyed by the liver or spleen, orused to form a blood clot.

When a blood vessel isdamaged, platelets rush to stickto the damaged area and form a clump. They bind tightly andrelease chemicals and stimulatethe formation of others. Thesechemicals make the blood vesselsnarrower, to reduce blood loss,and also attract more platelets tomake the clump bigger.

Cancer treatmentPeople who have a low plateletcount will bleed for a long time if injured. Even without injury,these people may sufferspontaneous bleeding.

Donor18p28&29-F2.qxp 20/11/07 18:44 Page 2

There are two ways ofdonating platelets. They can beseparated from a whole blooddonation back at our centre. Onedonation of platelets is thenmixed with three others, of thesame blood group, to provide oneadult platelet dose.

Platelet donorsAlternatively, platelets can becollected using a cell-separatormachine. This involves runningthe donor’s blood through amachine and separating off theplatelets whilst the othercomponents are returned back tothe donor. This process allows thecollection of up to three adultdoses of platelets per donation.Only one in five of our donors aresuited to this 90-minute processbut if you would like to considerbecoming a platelet donor please

onal donationonal donation


Above:Recipients like Allisonand Jack will enjoy Christmasthanks to your donations.Left:Platelets are stored inspecially-designed units thatrock gently to stop the cellfragments from clotting

ask when you next give blood.Platelets can only be stored for

five days. This puts a real strain onour supplies. When we are reallypushed we can extend the shelflife by up to seven days. But thisinvolves more complicated,detailed testing. This is not ideal,and so we try to make sure ourplatelet stocks are maintained allyear round.

When Christmas Day falls on ornear the weekend – like this year -it means that our supplycontinuity group has its work cutout. They start planning about ayear in advance to ensure that wehave enough donations to keepthe platelet supply flowing.

So if you have a date to donatethis Christmas, please try andmake it. �

Platelets start life in thebone marrow and ten dayslater they’re broken downin the spleen; but little isknown about what happensto them in between. At ourCambridge centre, a trialinvolving the tagging ofplatelets with a radio-isotope to follow theirmovements in the body,will, we hope, tell us moreabout their life cycle. �

A cell of mysteryA cell of mystery

� You need to have givenblood without any problemssuch as fainting or bruising.

� We need platelet donors ofgroups O, A and B (group ABpatients can receive group Aplatelets).

� You need to be 18 or older.� You need to have a higher

than average platelet count.� Platelet donors give eight to

ten times per year.Call 0845 7 711 711 now andask for details of how to becomea platelet donor. �

Becoming aplatelet donorBecoming aplatelet donor

STEV

E G

SCH

MEI

SSER

/SC

IEN

CE

PHO

TO L

IBR

AR

Y

Donor18p28&29-F2.qxp 20/11/07 18:45 Page 3

THE DONOR WINTER 200730

Safer donatingDo:� Read the latest advice � Eat and drink something

before the session � Take a rest afterwards� Tell us if you become ill

after donatingDon’t:� Give blood if you feel

unwell� Do hazardous work the

same day you donate� Faint! Take it easy after

you’ve helped save a life

ASK THE DOCTOR

QWhat should I eat ordrink before and after

donating blood?While there are no hard and fastrules, it’s wise to have something toeat and drink before you giveblood. Alcohol is best avoidedbefore donation. Afterwards,simply eat and drink as you usuallywould (see question below ondelayed fainting).

QWhy do I need to readthe Donor Health Check

(DHC) and welcome folderbefore donating?It is all about your safety and thesafety of the patient who receivesyour blood. It’s important youtreat each time you give blood asyour first, and read everything,because things could havechanged either with you or withour rules. We try very hard to giveyou up-to-date advice ondonating safely. You can get thedetails in a number of ways –online, on the DHC, in yourinvitation letter, in the welcomefolder at your session and throughthe many leaflets we have. But thisis only a guide – due to limitedspace we cannot list everything.For up-to-date information,please call the donor helpline. Wecan help with queries about recentmedical tests or treatment, andadvise on restrictions after

travelling to countries wheremalaria and other blood-borneinfections are found.

QWhen should I fill out myDonor Health Check?

If you have been sent your DHCin the post, please fill it in nomore than three days before theday. This is to make sure we havethe most up-to-date informationthat we can. We especially wantto know if you have taken anymedication or had an infection.

QHow long should I stay onthe bed after donating?

Again, there are no definite rules.Many people feel able to get upalmost straight away. Others mayfind that getting up too quicklymakes them feel faint. Our staffcan advise you at the time.

QI’ve become ill after donating. Should I tell you?

There’s no need if it’s just a coldor sore throat. But we do have toknow if you have diarrhoea andvomiting within two weeks ofgiving blood. And please alwaystell us if you develop aninfectious disease within fourweeks, or have made a donationwithin the incubation period ofthe disease, if you know it.Please do not donate if you havea cold, sore throat or upsetstomach on the day.

QWhat is delayed faintingand how do I prevent it?

A delayed faint is simply a faintthat happens some time afterthe donation is made. It is rare,but more likely to happen aftersmoking or drinking alcohol.

Also missing meals, standing stillfor long periods, vigorousexercise, hot baths, showers andsaunas can all trigger a delayedfaint. As a precaution, please tryto rest after giving blood.

QWhat activities should Iavoid doing afterwards?

As there is a risk of a delayedfaint, you are not allowed todonate if you have to undertakehazardous work on the sameday. If you are an air trafficcontroller, ambulance driver,crane or heavy machine operatoror in a similar occupation, youshould be aware of the risks ofdelayed fainting. For the same reason, werecommend that you avoid highintensity activities such as divingor climbing after donating. Provided you feel well, it is fine todrive a private vehicle, but notsome classes of PCV or LGV. Ifyou have any queries please call0845 7 711 711 for advice. �

Our doctor,AlistairShepherd,answers yourquestions aboutwhat to do andwhat to avoidbefore and aftergiving blood

Do’s and Don’tsDo’s and Don’ts

Donor18p30-F2.qxp 20/11/07 18:52 Page 2

ACROSS6 Mature (4)7 Place of

entertainment oroperation? (7)

9 Not so easy (6)10 Ingenious little

device (6)11 Legal document (4)13 Royal residence in

Scotland (8)14 Legendary lost

island (8)16 Ballerina's skirt (4)17 European

peninsula (6)18 Tangy sauce (6)20 Green gemstone (7)21 Norse god (4)

DOWN1 Capital of Peru (4)2 Required (6)3 Heavenly body (4)4 Coastal defences

against big waves (3,5)

5 Workplace for e.g, artist (6)

8 Refined and tasteful (7)

12 Site of Ugandan airport (7)

Complete the crossword. The letters in the pink squares spell out a phrase associated withblood. The definition does not start at the left-hand corner though. Send the phrase on apostcard together with your name, address and daytime phone number to CrosswordCompetition, The Donor, NBS, Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5BG. You could win an‘Amazing’ NBS sports umbrella. Answers and the winner will be in the next issue. Allentries must be received by 29th February 2008.

13 Act of treachery (8)15 Assented (6)16 Fat for soap

and candles (6)18 Impolite (4)19 Earth (4)

CROSSWORD

LAST ISSUE’S SOLUTION

WE HAVE A WINNER!Congratulations to Mrs Mary Robinson from Bocking,Essex, who correctly answered last issue’s crossword.The correct answer was:A RED LIQUID CARRYING OXYGEN.


Donor18p31-F1.qxp 20/11/07 14:51 Page 1

1 THE DONOR SPRING 2004

INFORMATIONJust call the 24 hour Donor Helpline on

0845 7 711 711and staff will answer your queries on:

• Whether you are able to give blood• Where you can give blood locally• Your donor session details• Becoming a bone marrow donor• How to become a platelet donor• Medical aspects of giving blood• How travelling abroad might affect your

giving blood• Any other general donor mattersRemember, you can call the Helpline to tell us ifyou have moved house or changed employers –we don't want to lose you!

DON’T FORGET information is also available on our website

www.blood.co.uk

We always need new donors. So please, if you arenot a donor, fill out the coupon below, place it inan envelope and send it to National Blood Service,FREEPOST, 75 Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 7YB,or call 0845 7 711 711 now to enrol as a donor.

SURNAME

Mr/Mrs/Ms/Miss

FIRST NAME

DATE OF BIRTH / /

ADDRESS

POSTCODE

DAYTIME PHONE No

To give blood you need to be in good health,aged 17 to 60 and weigh over 7st 12lbs/50kg.Please send this coupon to the address above. MO6I would like to join the NHS Blood Donor Register as someone whomay be contacted and would be prepared to donate blood.I understand that the National Blood Service (NBS) or its partnersmay phone, write or otherwise contact me with details of localdonor sessions. I agree to the NBS holding my personal details on their donor database and processing this information as necessary for the proper administration of the NBS.32 THE DONOR WINTER 2007

Blood stocks are lower at ChristmasPlease give blood this festive season

GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFEGIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE

Shohanna is able to enjoy this Christmas thanks to special giftsfrom blood andorgan donors.

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the donor - winter 2007

Documents

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blood donor online link

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