Question

What was the old blood donation and the new blood donation system? What is the difference between them?

Answer 1

Dear student.

Normally RBC can be stored for 5-6 weeks into anticoagulant solutions such as citrate-dextrose-phosphate for transfusion. The freshly stored blood is considered as new or fresh blood and the blood which is stored since 3-4 weeks is considered as old blood. The longer the blood is stored, more the number of cell damage takes place. Mortality rate of cell increases as the storage period exceeds more than 5-6 weeks. Transfusion of 6-week-old blood cannot properly metabolize the damaged cells, where as cells of fresh blood can rapidly divide and form new cells.

Regards.