Biology Hsc Assessment Task 1

Biology Hsc Assessment Task 1

Donated blood – what’s the use?
Discussion questions:
1. Who is eligible to give blood? – Donors need to be:
  * Healthy (i.e. no cold or flu symptoms)
  * Aged between 16 and 70
  * Weigh over 45kg (50kg if under 18)
  * Not have serious heart condition
  * Not be pregnant or have recently given birth
  * Not have lived in the UK for 6 months or more between 1980 and 1996
  * Not have a tattoo in the last 12 months
2. Main steps in the process of blood donation:
  1) Arrival – donor questionnaire enquires about general health (confidential to protect donor and recipient)
  2) Interview – opportunity for health check e.g. finger prick to ensure haemoglobin is within a healthy range, measure of blood pressure – also discuss recent health and ensure nothing has changed since last visit
  3) Giving blood – 5-10 mins depending on donor, (although an hour is needed from time of arrival to leaving to account for the interview and refreshments after donation)
  4) Refreshments – food and drink provided in the refreshment area to give donors time to rest after donating and make sure there are no complications such as dizziness (blood volume restored within 24-48 hours – process helped by drinking water-based fluids before and after donation – but not coffee/tea as they act as diuretics)
  5) Testing – donated blood is tested + screened for HIV 1 and 2, Hepatitis B and C, HTLV I and II and Syphilis
3. Donated blood is separated from whole blood into a number of different components namely red blood cells, white cells and plasma (which can be further separated). This is to allow the blood of a single donor to be used for several patients with different needs. Once donated the whole blood is separated by means of centrifuging, which isolates the lighter plasma from heavier platelets and blood cells. The different components of blood also have differing shelf-lives which necessitate separation, as plasma for example can be...