 |
 |
|
 |
||
          | ||
|
Q. What can I do to make sure that a safe supply of blood will be available should my friends, family, members of my community or I should need it? A. It is very important that healthy Americans donate blood. This will guarantee that a safe and adequate blood supply is available for patient care. Millions of lives are saved each year because of the availability of donated blood. Q. Do I have choices other than receiving blood from the community blood supply? A. Yes, you may have other choices. Autologous blood transfusion refers to procedures in which you may serve as your own blood donor. In preoperative autologous donation, your blood may be collected and stored before a scheduled surgery if blood use may be required. Directed donations can also be arranged in some cases from a person (usually a friend or relative) whom you select. Q. Is there a charge for receiving blood? A. All blood centers and hospitals charge a processing fee to cover service costs such as donor recruitment; collecting, testing, packaging, storing and distributing the blood; and administrative and staff costs. In the hospital, there are charges for matching and administering a blood transfusion. Most health insurance policies cover these fees. |
|
|
|
|
