Blood Bank and Zambia National Blood Transfusion Service
Introduction
The UTH Blood Bank has responsibilities for providing a 24 hour service for compatibility testing and supply of blood to patients.
The Zambia National Blood Transfusion Service (ZNBTS) has responsibilities for:
a) Blood donor recruitment, selection and blood collection;
b) Care for blood donors including counselling;
c) Screening for infectious agents, serological blood grouping and storage of units of donated blood;
d) The preparation of blood components and
e) Supplying blood and blood components to hospital blood banks, including UTH.
Location
The Blood Bank is located north western of the main UTH building near the In-service offices.
Blood donation
Blood donation is voluntary and no remuneration is given to donors.
Drop-in donors
Donors who wish to donate blood can go to the blood bank.
Screening and blood group serology
All units of blood are screened for the following mandatory transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs): HIV-1 & 2, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and syphilis. Other tests performed include ABO and Rhesus D blood grouping. Only blood negative for TTIs is released for use.
Autologous transfusions
A schedule of autologous donations should be arranged with the blood bank.