TESTING... WHAT HAPPENS TO DONATED BLOOD?

Before any blood products can be transfused, a sample of blood collected from the donor must be tested. The first area of testing relates to determining the ABO group and the Rh type of the donor's blood.

The second area of testing is to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases; tests for exposure to hepatitis B, hepatitis C, AIDS, HTLV-I/II, Chagas and syphilis are run on each donation. After all component preparation and testing of donor blood is complete, the various products are available for patients in need. Any unit testing positive for any infectious disease is discarded, and the donor notified for possible further evaluation by a personal physician.

Blood Types
O Positive - 37%
O Negative - 7%
A Positive - 36%
A Negative - 6%
B Positive - 9%
B Negative - 2%
AB Positive - 3%
AB Negative - 1%