Tests Performed on Donated Blood
A number of tests are performed on the blood you donate. These tests, along with your accurate medical history, greatly reduce the possibility of transmitting disease through blood transfusion. There are three categories of testing performed and they are as follows:
Tests that directly detect potential transmission of infectious diseases.
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- AIDS/HIV
- Syphilis
- Human T Cell Leukemia, (a degenerative neurological disease)
- West Nile Virus
- Chagas disease
Tests that indirectly detect increased potential for transmitting disease. This testing is referred to as surrogate testing and is used to detect carriers of a disease for which there is no specific test.
- Hepatitis B Surface Antigen
Tests that ensure appropriate selection of blood that is compatible with the patient.
- ABO Group and RH Type- These tests permit matching of patient and donor group and type. Further tests (crossmatching) are then performed utilizing blood samples from both patient and donor to further ensure compatibility.
- Antibody Screen - This test detects antibodies in the donor's plasma which may cause an adverse reaction with the patient's red cells during transfusion.
