Memorial Blood Centers Responds To Concerns About The Safety Of The Community's Blood Supply

Main Category: Blood / Hematology
Also Included In: Swine Flu
Article Date: 13 Nov 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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Memorial Blood Centers addressed recent concerns about the potential effect of H1N1 on the local blood supply and detailed the steps the organization continues to take to meet the needs of its 30 area hospital partners for a safe and ample supply of blood and blood products.

"A great deal is being written about the H1N1 virus and recent concerns have been raised regarding the virus's potential impact on our country's blood supply," noted Jed Gorlin, MD, Medical Director and Vice President of Memorial Blood Centers. "While other parts of the country may be experiencing varying degrees of difficulty in managing an adequate supply of safe and fully-tested blood and blood products, that is not the case in communities served by Memorial Blood Centers. And we hope this extremely important message will reach everyone in the community working with us to achieve our mission."

-- The current inventory of blood and blood products available to meet the needs of area hospitals is stable

-- The process of blood donation continues to be safe

-- Generous volunteers who will roll up their sleeves to donate blood are as in-demand as ever

"Historically, there has been little evidence that blood transfusion contributes measurably to the spread of flu," Dr. Gorlin added. "To date, there are no indications to suggest that the blood supply has been or will be compromised by the H1N1 virus."

Memorial Blood Centers aggressively manages both inventory and testing procedures to ensure the safety of all blood collected and the right 'just-in-time' supply of the blood types most needed by area hospital clients. 14 tests are performed on each unit of donated blood--including 11 testing for infectious diseases. The organization regularly updates its standing Pandemic Preparedness Plan, continues to monitor the H1N1 situation closely, and works directly with the Hennepin County Preparedness task force, Minnesota Department of Health, Centers for Disease Control, and its hospital partners to stay ahead of any developing situation.

-- Memorial Blood Centers urges all blood donors to be informed, take everyday actions to stay healthy, be alert to H1N1 flu symptoms, and continue to give.

-- Blood donors who are healthy and well are encouraged to continue to donate.

-- Making a blood donation does not weaken the body or make it more susceptible to the flu.

-- Blood is the ultimate renewable resource: the body replaces fluids within hours and red blood cells within three weeks.

-- There is no risk to donors of contracting an infectious disease through the donation process.

"As with blood centers around the country, we also have seen an increase in absenteeism in schools and offices--due to any number of reasons, from downsizing and layoffs to flu symptoms," Dr. Gorlin concluded. "But unlike reports from other regions, Memorial Blood Centers has successfully managed blood collections through our 11 donor centers and the hundreds of community-sponsored blood drives we conduct each month. The blood supplies our clients need are what we make available."

Fast Facts about Giving a Gift to Your Community:

Every two seconds, someone needs blood and making a donation is one way to give a potentially life-saving gift to friends, family, and community. Donors 17 and older must be in good health and weigh at least 110 pounds; donors 16 years of age must weigh at least 130 pounds, be at least 5 feet tall, and have written parental consent.

About Memorial Blood Centers

Memorial Blood Centers, celebrating its 60th anniversary, is the only locally-operated nonprofit organization supplying life-saving blood and blood components to over 30 hospital partners throughout Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. Operating 11 donor centers and conducting hundreds of blood drives each month, Memorial Blood Centers also is a national leader in transfusion medicine, providing expert technical services to clients throughout the U.S.

Source: Memorial Blood Centers

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