TME 65: Why Do Blood Banks Irradiate Donated Blood? A Life-Saving Procedure You Should Know About
- Dr. ARUN V J
- May 13
- 3 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Blood donation saves millions of lives every year, but did you know that some donated blood undergoes a special process called irradiation before transfusion? This step is crucial for certain patients, yet many people—even regular donors—are unaware of it.
What Are the Components of Blood?
Blood is made up of four key components:
Red Blood Cells (RBCs) – Carry oxygen to tissues.
White Blood Cells (WBCs) – Fight infections.
Part of the immune system.
Fight infections (neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, etc.).
Normally helpful, but in transfusions, they can attack the recipient’s body.
Platelets – Help blood clot.
Plasma – The liquid portion containing proteins and antibodies.
While all these components are essential, white blood cells can sometimes cause problems in donated blood—especially for certain high-risk patients.
Why Are White Blood Cells Troublesome in Donated Blood?
White blood cells are part of the immune system, but in donated blood, they can:
Attack the recipient’s body if the donor and recipient are closely related (a condition called Transfusion-Associated Graft-vs-Host Disease or TA-GVHD).
Trigger immune reactions in immunocompromised patients (like cancer patients or transplant recipients).
Since TA-GVHD is fatal in over 90% of cases, removing or disabling these WBCs is critical.
Who Is at Risk?
Not everyone requires irradiated blood, but these patients must receive it to avoid fatal complications:
1. Immunocompromised Patients
Cancer patients (especially leukemia or lymphoma).
Bone marrow/stem cell transplant recipients (their immune system is suppressed).
HIV/AIDS patients (weakened immunity).
2. Newborns & Premature Babies
Their immune systems are underdeveloped.
Even a small number of donor WBCs can trigger GVHD.
3. Patients Receiving Blood from Relatives
Close genetic match increases GVHD risk (donor WBCs see recipient cells as foreign but similar enough to attack).
Common in directed donations (e.g., parents donating to children).
4. Patients with Rare Disorders
Congenital immune deficiencies (e.g., SCID—"bubble boy" disease).
Why Is GVHD So Dangerous?
90% fatality rate—once it starts, treatment is extremely difficult.
Symptoms include fever, rash, liver damage, and bone marrow failure.
Often misdiagnosed because it resembles other conditions.
How Does Blood Irradiation Work?
Blood is collected as usual.
It is exposed to radiation (typically 25-50 Gy, enough to damage DNA in WBCs).
WBCs are disabled—they can’t multiply or attack the recipient.
RBCs, platelets, and plasma remain functional (radiation doesn’t harm them).
Key Facts:
Does NOT make blood radioactive (radiation doesn’t linger & it doesn't make you HULK).
Extends shelf life slightly (irradiated RBCs last 28 days, platelets 5 days).
Irreversible—once WBCs are irradiated, they can’t recover.
The Big Challenge in India: Cost & Infrastructure
While irradiation is standard in developed countries, India faces two major hurdles:
High Cost – Requires expensive radiation equipment (like cesium-137 or X-ray machines).
Limited Availability – Few blood banks have irradiation facilities, leading to gaps in patient safety.
Worse, TA-GVHD is often underreported or misdiagnosed in India, meaning many cases go unnoticed.
What Can We Do?
Awareness – More discussions on safe transfusion practices.
Policy Push – Government support for irradiation in public blood banks.
Alternative Solutions – Using pathogen reduction technologies where irradiation isn’t available.
Final Thoughts
Blood irradiation is a life-saving but underrated procedure that protects the most vulnerable patients. While cost and infrastructure remain barriers in India, raising awareness can drive change.
Did you know about blood irradiation before reading this?
Let us know in the comments! And if you found this useful, share it—someone’s life could depend on it.
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