Clarification of Question by
johno101-ga
on
19 Dec 2002 00:00 PST
I have already read a lot of information on the site www.bloodbook.com
including information about a few companies that provide service in NY
and I looked at some of the web sites for those companies. I want to
find out about more information beyond what is on the bloodbook site
and about other services, not just in NY but in Seattle and Boston.
I also spoke many months ago to Puget Sound Blood Center here in the
Seattle Area and they told me that they only provide short term
autologous storage. The Red Cross also told me at that time that they
don’t provide service (any service, not just autologous storage) in
this geographical area either. I have not spoken to anyone else at
any of the companies on the bloodbook site, or any organizations in NY
or Boston.
I have read confusing or contradictory or incomplete information about
storage. Here are some examples of contradictory or confusing quotes
from bloodbook:
At http://www.bloodbook.com/storage.html:
1) Despite the obvious advantages, the technology of frozen blood
banking programs has not been adequately utilized for over 35 years.
Utilizing ultra freezing technology and cryopreservation agents, it is
possible to store blood for over 20 years.
2) The cryo-freezing process is expensive and research is ongoing.
Normally a frozen autologous storage fee is prepaid per pint when you
decide to freeze your Blood. The Red Cross operates on a cost-recovery
basis only.
Your Blood, once donated, may be stored in a frozen state for decades,
and up to 20 years, for a fee. The fee varies depending on the Blood
center accepting the Blood, and storing the Blood. The amount allowed
to be stored may also vary.
When you need the donated and stored Blood, upon notification from the
hospital, the storing Blood center immediately begins to thaw your
Blood. Because of time required to thaw frozen Blood and deliver it to
a where you are, frozen autologous Blood is not practical for
emergency use. Thawing takes 60 to 90 minutes. Once your Blood has
been thawed, it must be used within 24 hours
But from http://www.bloodbook.com/facts.html:
“Frozen red Blood cells can be stored for ten years, and more.
Platelets must be used within five days.
...
Frozen Plasma can be stored for up to one year.”
This is why I asked about storage length and asked about the answer
for different parts of the blood. The answer is still very unclear to
me. I’m not even clear what all the “parts” of the blood are yet,
i.e., whether the RBC’s, plasma, and platelets together make up
everything.
