At the time of blood donation, blood samples from the donor is collected in pilot tubes for testing.
The following tests are performed on all blood units collected:
- Blood Grouping
- ABO red cell and serum grouping
- Rh (D) grouping
- Rhesus phenotype
- Screening tests for irregular blood group antibodies
| Tests for transfusion transmitted diseases | | - | HIV 1,0 &2 antibodies and P24 antigen for HIV | | - | HbsAg for Hepatitis B Virus | | - | Anti HCV antibodies for Hepatitis C Virus | | - | VDRL and TPHA for Syphilis | All tests pertaining to transfusion transmitted diseases are presently done in the virology department of Central Health Laboratory. All units found reactive for transfusion transmitted diseases are destroyed by incineration.
Blood units found safe, i.e negative for transfusion transmitted infections, are labeled and stored.  |
The label on a blood unit carries the following information
ABO and Rhesus group
Date of collection
Date of expiry
Blood unit number
Warning label
| | Frequency of Blood groups in Mauritians | | | Group
| Frequency
| | | | O
| 40%
| | | | A
| 27%
| | | | B | 26%
| | | | AB | 7% | | | | | 96% of Mauritians are Rhesus positive and 4% are Rhesus negative. There is often a shortage of Rhesus negative blood. The blood Transfusion Service maintains a panel of these donors so that they can be called upon when required. Prevalence of Infectious Markers in Mauritian Donors
Donors Disease Prevalence | HIV | 0.01% | HBV | 0.4% | HCV | 1% | Syphilis | 1% | How is blood stored and used?
Blood cannot be stored indefinitely. Whole blood and red blood cells are stored at 40c for a period of 35 days. Platelets can be stored for 5 days at 22-240c. Fresh frozen plasma and cryoprecipitate can be stored at -300c for 1 year.
Red blood cells carry oxygen and are used to treat anemia.. Platelets are important to control bleeding and are used in patients of leukemia and other cancers . Fresh frozen plasma is used to control bleeding due to low levels of some clotting factors while cryoprecipitate is mainly used to treat hemophilia A.
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