Eight laboratory tests for different infectious diseases are currently conducted on each unit of donated blood. All results must be negative for a blood unit to be labeled and released. Tests for hepatitis B and syphilis were in place before 1985. If a donor knows of any reason why his or her blood should not be used for transfusion, he or she places the sticker indicating that the unit should not be transfused on the label. This is done to ensure that no pressure is exerted on the donor to give blood.
Every donation is checked against existing records.
If a donor was indefinitely deferred, the collected unit is withdrawn from circulation and potential use. This process acts as a barrier to prevent the release of any blood from a donor who was previously judged to be indefinitely unacceptable. All Rights Reserved.