Name: Sarah Formosa Date: 15/11/2011 Title: Malta National Blood Transfusion Centre.

Aim: To see how blood is collected, what its uses are and its components. Introduction: The Malta Blood transfusion Centre is situated in Guardamangia, near the former St. Lukes General Hospital. This centre helps people who are in need of blood. For example, Cancer patients, major operation patients and accident casualties. The blood at the centre is transported to Mater Dei General Hospital, Gozo General Hospital and other private hospitals. Before you can donate blood, you have to first fill in a questionnaire, which contains some personal questions that you need to answer. People may find this very inconvenient as they wouldnt like to share personal information, but it is good to know that all the information is given in confidence and nobody else would know. The donor has to be honest about any diseases to prevent harm to others as the blood is only tested for four diseases: Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Syphilis and HIV. Blood Components: The main components of blood are the Red Blood Cells, these cells carry oxygen throughout the body. Other components are the White Blood Cells, The platelets and Plasma. The white blood cells are used as antibodies against viruses. Platelets help to clot open wounds, whilst the plasma is the liquid part of the blood. Donation Process: After filling in the questionnaire, a haemoglobin prick test is used to determine the amount of haemoglobin in the person. The haemoglobin prick should read 13.5 mg/l in males and 12.5 mg/l in women. If the amount is right, the person can now donate blood. There are certain restrictions though. The persons minimum weight has to be 50Kg, they have to be at least 17 years old (with parental consent) and not more than 67 years old. A woman cannot go to donate again after four months (before menopause, after menopause: three months) and man cannot go again after three months. Approximately 500ml of blood is drawn out.

Post- Donation: The blood is taken to labs to be tested. Three samples are taken from the blood drawn. The first sample is tested for the blood group, the second is taken to the archives and the third is tested for diseases. If a disease is found, the blood is re-checked, assuming that a mistake was made. If the same results come up again the person is informed immediately. If the results come in clear, centrifuging is used to separate the blood. The top layer formed is the plasma, second white blood cells, third the platelets and last the red blood cells. Red blood cells have to be used within 42 days. Platelets have to be used within 5 days and plasma can be stored for up to 3 years. The platelets are kept in containers which are constantly moving to prevent them from fusing together.

Red Blood Cells

Platelets

Different Types of Blood: The four main types of blood are A, B, AB and O. The types are then categorised into two more categories, Negative and Positive depending on the Rhesus Factor. The most common type of blood is O positive. Patients who have this kind of blood, can only receive from people of the same group, but they can give blood to anyone.

Centrifugation

Platelet Agitator

Conclusion: In Malta the population is about 400,000 people, 140,000 of which can donate blood. Unfortunately only about 40,000 will donate blood, and about 10,000 will donate regularly. The centre wants their donors to be altruistic and donate blood because they want to help others. Nobody can live without blood, and everyone will need blood at some point, even babies. Many people die, because not enough people are willing to donate blood. There are many people who are scared, and there are some who are just lazy and dont care, until something bad happens to them. You can donate blood at the Malta National Blood Transfusion Centre, at Guardamangia from Monday to Sunday, including public holidays, or Mobile units which visit different localities regularly.