What is normally present in blood?

Blood contains red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets floating in plasma. Plasma contains many factors including those necessary for clotting. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin which carries oxygen to all tissues of the body. White blood cells fight infection. Platelets help with blood clotting.

What is a transfusion?

A transfusion is when you receive a blood component through an intravenous tube in your arm. A blood component is made when donor blood is separated in to different parts. Some examples of these blood components are: red blood cells, platelets, plasma, albumin and clotting factors.

Where does the blood used for a transfusion come from?

Blood is collected from healthy volunteer donors by the Canadian Blood Services. Each time blood is donated it is tested for syphilis, Hepatits B, Hepatitis C, HIV and other viruses. Blood is NOT released for transfusion if there is any concern that it may transmit disease or harm a patient.

You may need a transfusion for many reasons:

• To increase red blood cells that are lost from trauma, surgery or disease,
• To replace clotting factors or platelets in your blood to help stop bleeding.