MUSCAT -- Oman is nearing self-sufficiency in safe, donor blood, thanks to increased donation and the use of blood separation technology. There has been a constant increase in the number of altruistic and safe blood donors over the years. Total blood donations to the Ministry of Health blood banks have increased from 29, 918 donors in 2001 to 39,410 in 2008.
With the ongoing advancements in the Sultanate's entire health sector, the need for blood and blood components is increasing every year and the Department of Blood Services is always in a position to fulfil such demands, Dr Ali bin Mohammed bin Moosa, Minister of Health, told the Observer in comments.
Unlike in the past when whole blood was used for all patients, today thanks to technological advances, donor blood is separated into components and each component is given for particular clinical conditions. This saves donor blood and makes for more effective treatments. All blood collected from the donors at the Central Blood Bank is separated into components, such as Fresh Frozen Plasma, Red Blood Cells, Platelets, Cryo-Precipitate and Cryo-Poor. There are clear clinical and medical indications for the use of these components.
The Packed RBC component is used for patients with trauma, bleeding due to any surgical operation, deliveries, hematological and oncological malignancies requiring blood. Platelet concentrates are used for the treatment of bleeding due to thrombocytopenia, platelet function defects, and bone marrow transplant. Fresh Frozen Plasma is vital in the replacement of multiple coagulation factor deficiencies eg liver disease, DIC (coagulation disorder) and TTP (Thrombotic Thromocytopeic Purpura).
Cryoprecipitate is used as an alternative to Factor VIII concentrate in the treatment of inherited deficiencies of Von Willebrand Factor (Von Willebrand's disease), Factor VIII (Haemophilia A), and Factor XIII. It is also used as a source of fibrinogen in acquired coagulopathies: eg disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).
The Central Blood Bank, Ministry of Health, is the central institution situated in Muscat Governorate. It is responsible for the collection of blood, preparation of components, storage and providing Ministry of Health hospitals, non-ministerial and private hospitals with their requirements on request. The requirements of blood by the regional hospitals are met by their respective hospital based blood banks which are self-sufficient but during emergency the Central Blood Bank fulfills their requirements.
By Hasan Kamoonpuri
© Oman Daily Observer 2009
