Tests Performed on Donations
All blood donations (Autologous, Designated, Whole Blood and Apheresis) are screened by multiple tests to maximize the safety of transfused blood and components. The laboratory at Stanford Medical School Blood Center performs these tests.
Because there is a lag time after exposure before infectious disease tests become positive, all donors are also questioned closely about possible recent exposure to infectious diseases.
ABO\Rh Type: Determines blood type and Rh factor.
Antibody to Cytomegalovirus (CMV): About half of all donors have antibodies to this virus. Although the virus does not cause significant illness in healthy individuals, CMV may cause severe infection in transplant recipients and other patients whose immune systems are impaired. Other patients can safely receive blood that has this antibody.
Antibody to Hepatitis B Core: Protein: Tests for past exposure to hepatitis B virus.
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen: Tests for the presence of hepatitis B virus.
Antibody to Hepatitis C (HCV) : Tests for past exposure to hepatitis C virus.
Syphilis Test: Tests for exposure to syphilis infection.
Antibody to HIV I/II (AIDS virus): Tests for exposure to the AIDS virus.
Antibody to HTLV-I/II: Tests for exposure to HTLV-I/II, a virus that may cause leukemia and neurological disease.
Antibody to Trypanosoma Cruzi (T-Cruzi): Tests for exposure to this parasite, the causative agent of Chagas Disease (a parasitic disease that is present in the continental Americas).
Nucleic Acid Testing for HIV: Tests for the presence of human immunodeficiency virus.
Nucleic Acid Testing for HCV: Tests for the presence of hepatitis C Virus.
Nucleic Acid Testing for WNV: Tests for the presence of West Nile Virus.
As a service to our donors, the following test is available:
Cholesterol: A screeening performed on all donations to identify the individual's total cholesterol level. Results are mailed to all donors, and also are available on-line in donors' personal accounts (except autologous).
