60 million blood collection procedures are performed throughout the world every year to obtain blood's three major parts or "components": red cells, platelets, and plasma. These blood components are given to patients in transfusions or used to make drugs.

Blood transfusions help many life-saving medical treatments. However, transfusing blood is like writing a prescription: a doctor only gives a patient the blood component they need for effective treatment.

Below are the blood components used in the treatment of various conditions*:

	Liver Transplant		6-10 units of red blood cells 20 units of plasma 10 units of platelets
	Adult Open Heart Surgery		2-6 units of red blood cells 2-4 units of plasma 1-10 units of platelets
	Automobile Accident		4-40 units of red blood cells
	Leukemia		2-6 units of red blood cells 6-8 units of platelets daily for 2-4 weeks
	Sickle Cell Disease		10-15 units of red blood cells for severe cases

Of the blood components, red cells are the most frequently used. Forty million units are transfused each year. Demand for red cells continues to increase as supply continues to decrease. There are several reasons for this trend.

Surgeries that require more transfusions, like organ transplants, are increasing. Also, chemotherapy treatment for cancer is becoming more common. Both transplants and chemotherapy make it harder for patients to make their own healthy blood cells, so these patients require frequent transfusions of both platelets and red cells.

In the US, the population is aging. People who used to be frequent blood donors are no longer able to give blood and they are starting to use blood. Younger people have not adopted blood donation as part of their lifestyle as past generations have. Also, less people are eligible to donate today because of the many restrictions on blood donors. Travel to certain areas of the world make some people ineligible to donate. Health problems and medications make some people ineligible to donate. Body piercing and tattoos make some people ineligible to donate for a year.

The world continues to see an increasing number of blood shortages. Although the U.S. saw a record number of blood donors in the fall of 2001 in response to the September 11th tragedy, by January of 2002, U.S. blood collectors were already experiencing critical blood shortages. Weekly, there are reports around the globe of blood collectors making urgent "pleas" to donors. A 2000 survey* of the U.S. blood supply noted that 7% of hospitals had postponed surgeries because of lack of available blood at some point during the year.

A new trend in the blood collection industry is a move to filtering of blood. Filters remove potentially harmful white blood cells from the blood prior to transfusion to a patient. Ten countries currently require filtration of all blood, and fourteen additional countries, including the U.S., are moving toward filtering all blood.

With fewer donors, more demand, and the increasing costs associated with insuring blood safety, the cost of red cells is rising. By donating blood, you can make a real difference. If blood collectors have enough donors, they can focus their efforts on other areas and insure that your community has enough blood in supply for all the patients that need it.

Your donation is important. You CAN make a difference.

*2000 Nationwide Blood Collection and Utilization Survey conducted by the National Blood Data Resource Center.