Plasma is often collected from donors by a variety of organizations, particularly commercial for-profit organizations, that provide it to companies for manufacture into a variety of blood products. These products usually undergo a purification process to make them safe. Some of these products provide clotting factors for people who suffer from abnormal bleeding disorders. Hemophilia, a hereditary disease generally limited to males, often requires treatment with large amounts of clotting factors to stop bleeding episodes. The autologous transfusion procedure consists of your blood being collected before surgery, stored and returned to you during or following surgery to replace the blood you have lost.
Autologous blood is the safest blood available for transfusion.
Because you donate your own blood, you eliminate the risk of acquiring infectious diseases that may be transmitted by blood transfusion. Blood from friends, family members, or other volunteer donors may transmit an infectious disease or cause some other undesirable side effect. Though blood from volunteer donors, including friends and family members, is tested to eliminate possible risks, autologous transfusion is the ONLY way to eliminate these risks. In addition, the use of autologous blood leaves more of the community blood supply available for those who cannot participate in autologous blood transfusion programs. If you have a need for blood transfusion, such as upcoming surgery, contact your physician.