BLOOD TESTS
TESTING YOUR BLOOD
    Blood is tested for syphilis, AIDS antibodies, hepatitis and other viruses.You are notified  if tests show you may be unhealthy.  Your blood won’t be used if it could make someone sick. (A sample of your blood or portion of your donation might be used for additional tests or other research. )

    Do not give blood to find out whether you test positive for antibodies to the viruses (HIV) that cause AIDS.
   Though the tests used  are very good, they aren’t perfect.  HIV antibodies may take weeks to develop after infection with the virus.  If you were infected recently, you may have a negative test result, yet be able to infect someone.  That’s why you must not give blood if you are at risk of getting ADIS or other infections diseases.  The blood banks can tell you where to get an AIDS test anonymously.

WHAT IS BLOOD TESTED FOR ?

    After a volunteer blood donor rolls up his/her sleeves and donates blood to a Blood Bank,
What happens then ?
Where does the blood go and
What is the blood tested for before it reaches the recipient?

    After a unit of blood is donated it is delivered to the Blood Bank laboratory for testing.  Every unit of blood donated to the center is tested for the following, under very strict Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations.

ABO Forward and Reverse Grouping :
    Each donor’s cells are tested with Anti-A, Anti-B, and Anti-A,B.  In addition, each donor’s plasma is tested with A1 and B cells.

Rh Typing :
    Each donor’s cells are also tested with two Anti-D reagents and a control.  All D Negative (Rh negative) donors are tested through the antiglobulin phase.  Units that are D positive or Du Positive are labelled Rh Positive.

Syphilis Screening :
    Presently the Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) test is done on each donor which is a general screening test only.  Any positive RPR test is reported to the health department and a serum sample is sent for further investigation.  The donor is notified of confirmed results by the health department.

Antibody Screening :
    Each donor’s plasma is tested against a pooled cell for atypical  antibodies.  The Blood Bank tests for antibodies reacting at 37 degree Celsius with the indirect antiglobulin test. All antibodies found are identified in the Reference Laboratory.

Hepatitis B Testing :
    All donor units are tested for HbsAg.  All positive units are destroyed according to FDA regulations, confirmatory testing is done intermittently.  All notification is done on a confidential level.

Hepatitis C Testing :
    All donor units are tested for the "Hepatitis C" Antibody.  All positive units are destroyed according to FDA regulations.  Supplemental testing is conducted.  All notifications are confidential.  Hep C. Testing is not mandatory so far.

HIV I, II, Testing :
    All units of blood are tested for the HIV antibody, which causes AIDS.  All positive units are destroyed according to FDA regulations.

Reference Laboratory :
    Donor problems are resolved in the Reference Laboratory, including ABO discrepancies, atypical antibody identification, and antigen screening.