Changes in Blood Donation after the COVID-19 Pandemic in Thailand
Keywords:
COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, blood donationAbstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by infection with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2--SARS-CoV-2. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Blood Centre--NBC and Thai Red Cross Society--TRCS reported a nationwide shortage of donated blood, which was a serious issue in 2021. The concern of blood donors over the COVID-19 infection triggers all blood donation units to lay down clear safety measures and guidelines for blood donation to build confidence among people to donate more blood. The changes in blood donation guidelines by NBC and TRCS aim to ensure safety against SARS-CoV-2 infection for all stakeholders, including blood bank practitioners, donors, and recipients. Hence, the criteria have been established to screen for COVID-19. Currently, people infected with COVID-19 must defer from donation 14 days after full recovery; asymptomatic COVID-19 patients must defer from donation. 7 days after detecting infection, donors who have received the COVID-19 vaccine must defer their donation 7 days after receiving the vaccine, according to the initial announcement, later reduced to 2 days. The laboratory will not test the donated blood for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies or SARS-CoV-2, which may be found in asymptomatic COVID-19 donors. Therefore, blood recipients are not at any greater risk than before when receiving blood from a donor who has previously contracted COVID-19 or received the COVID-19 vaccine, compared to general donor blood before the COVID-19 pandemic.
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