Volunteer blood donors provide a safe and adequate supply of blood and blood components for all patients in our region who require transfusion. However, in some cases a patient and his or her physician may prefer to use designated blood donations for a planned procedure. A designated blood donation is given by a specific individual to be made available for transfusion to a designated patient. Designated donations are not appropriate for emergencies or unpredictable transfusion needs because it takes up to twelve hours to test a unit of blood before it is ready for transfusion. Please note: Scientific evidence suggests that blood from volunteer donors and from designated donors offers comparable safety from infectious disease risk. In fact, a study by America's Blood Centers indicates a slightly lower chance of infectious disease transmission from the blood of a volunteer blood donor.

For the Patient…

A patient scheduling an elective surgery or another planned procedure should discuss transfusion alternatives with his or her physician. If you decide that designated blood donations would be your best option, then you should take the following steps:

1. Complete the "Patient Consent for Use of Designated Blood Donations" form with your physician;
   
   
2. Make a list of individuals believed to be suitable donors;
   
   
3. Confirm your blood type with your physician;
   
   
4. Forward the completed consent, the list of potential donors and your confirmed blood type to Community Blood Services of Illinois;
   
   
5. Arrange a consultation with the blood center's Special Collections Coordinator. The consultation will include a discussion of fees for using designated donors and a discussion of the potential donors. If you wish to receive blood from direct blood relatives, the consultation will also include a discussion of graft-versushost disease and irradiation of blood products. Please note: If irradiation of blood products is necessary, the hospital will assess additional charges to your bill;
   
   
6. Have your physician complete an order for blood products;
   
   
7. Notify your potential donors that they may begin scheduling appointments with the blood center.
   
   
   

For the Donor…

Blood donor requirements include but are not limited to the following:

• a minimum weight of 110 pounds;
• a minimum age of 17;
• no history of hepatitis or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) or behaviors associated with the transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV);
• a minimum of 56 days since your last whole blood donation.

When you come to the blood center for your appointment, you will be asked to complete a medical history. A member of the blood center staff will confidentially review this form with you as well as give you a physical. The blood center is concerned with the safety of both the patient and the donor. Screening procedures are designed to promote safety for both of you.

The blood center does not perform ABO/Rh group identification (blood typing) prior to drawing designated blood donors. Your blood type will be confirmed by the blood center's laboratory after your donation.

…Scheduling an Appointment for Designated Donation

You will need to make your appointment one week in advance of the expected transfusion date. This will give the patient a chance to find additional donors if some potential donors are deferred from donating. Generally, fifteen percent of first time designated donors are not eligible to donate. On average, another three to five percent of first time donors have positive markers for hepatitis or other infectious diseases. To schedule your donation, please phone the blood center and identify yourself as a designated donor. You will be asked the name and hospital of the patient for whom you are donating and an appointment will be scheduled.

If you have additional questions about becoming a designated donor, please call the blood center at 217-367-2202 or 800-217-GIVE (4483).

…On the Day of Donation

On the day of your scheduled donation you should eat a light meal within four hours of the appointment and drink plenty of fluids throughout the day. When you arrive at the blood center please identify yourself as a designated donor. You will be asked for a blood donor card or another form of identification which includes your name, address and/ or Social Security Number.

Community Blood Services of Illinois tries to fill the need for all patients desiring designated donations however, the blood center cannot guarantee that requests for designated donations will be met. Technical difficulties, incompatible blood types, insufficient designated donors and unexpected medical complications can prevent transfusion needs from being fully met with designated donations. Also, in the event of a dire local emergency, available designated donations may be given to patients who have a critical need for blood transfusions. This is unlikely to occur as regional blood supplies are usually adequate.

If you have additional questions about the designated donation program, please call Community Blood Services of Illinois' Special Collections Coordinator at 217-367-2202 or 800-217-GIVE (4483).