By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com
Black donors are crucial for the U.S. blood supply, yet their presence continues to lack. This gap means sickle cell patients are not getting blood that matches them the best.
“If you have the more diversity of the blood donor supply, the higher the chance that you will find blood that’s a match for sickle cell patients,” said Dr. Christina M. Barriteau, physician and medical director of the blood bank at Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. “The diversity of the blood donation supply is definitely not matching the increasing diversity of our nation.”
According to Scott Marder, regional communications manager for the National Capital and Greater Chesapeake Region of American Red Cross, Black people have unique structures on their red blood cells that can make it difficult to find a compatible unit of blood in other donor populations. Sickle cell impacts 100,000 people in the U.S., about 90 percent of them are Black.
While the American Red Cross reports progress in recruiting more Black and other minority group donors, the numbers still fall short of reflecting the nation’s diversity.
“Working with community partners, we’ve rebuilt and strengthened our Black and African-American donor base by a 74 percent increase from the lowest point during the pandemic—surpassing pre-COVID-19 levels,” said Marder.
“Prior to the pandemic, blood donors who are Black represented just about 4 percent of all Red Cross blood donors, which made it challenging to collect enough lifesaving blood donations to meet the needs of sickle cell patients and others in need,” he added.
Barriteau said many are eligible to donate blood but recognized the historical mistrust of the medical system that can make increasing turn out difficult.
To improve this situation, Barriteau called for greater awareness of the need for blood donation, coordinated communication campaigns and stronger partnerships with communities. She said organizations should not just go into a community and ask for blood, it needs to be a sustainable commitment carried out alongside them.
She noted that more diversity among donors increases the likelihood of finding a match for sickle cell patients.
“The more diversity of the blood donor supply, the higher the chance that you will find blood that’s a match for sickle cell patients,” she said. “Black individuals tend to be a better match for patients with sickle cell disease.”
Both Barriteau and Marder honed that donating blood is a safe process, and people should not hesitate to give or receive blood.
“Our donor health history screening helps to protect the blood supply,” he said. “The screening checks a donor’s temperature, blood pressure and hemoglobin levels and asks a series of questions designed to ensure that a donor is healthy enough to donate and that their blood is as safe as possible for patients.”
Marder said blood is only collected from donors who are healthy and feeling well at the time of donation. Barriteau noted that individuals with anemia, bleeding disorders, blood disorders or cancer are not eligible.
Marder and Barriteau offered insight into what it takes to be a regular donor and what the donation experience involves
“The entire donation process takes about an hour, and the actual donation lasts about 8-10 minutes,” Marder said.
He said in most states, individuals who are 17 years of age, weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. Blood can be safely donated every 56 days, up to six times a year. The donation of Power Reds, two units of blood during one visit, can be donated every 112 days. Platelets can be given every seven days, up to 24 times a year.
“Every day, volunteer blood and platelet donors across the country are needed to help save lives,” said Marder. “Even when hospitals are fully stocked with blood products, unexpected events can cause a sudden drop in the availability of lifesaving transfusions. We need donors of all ethnicities and blood types to ensure the right blood product is available at the right time.”
Those interested in donating can go to RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-Red Cross (1-800-733-2767).