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Jeff Gordon Children's Hospital

Jeff Gordon Children's Hospital
Affiliated with Levine Children's Hospital
920 Church Street N
Concord, NC 28025
(800) 575-1275

Blood Transfusions

What Is a Blood Transfusion?

A blood transfusion is when a donor's blood is transferred to a patient. The blood is transferred into the patient's body through a vein. A blood transfusion can make up for the loss of blood

Blood transfusions save lives every day. Hospitals use them to help people who are injured, having surgery, getting cancer treatments, or being treated for other diseases that affect the blood, like sickle cell anemia.

A Bit About Blood


Blood is a mixture of cells and liquid, and each part has a specific job:

  • Red blood cells carry oxygen to the body's tissues and remove carbon dioxide. These cells are the ones that are most commonly transfused.
  • White blood cells help the body fight infection by making antibodies, (proteins that help destroy germs in the body).
  • Platelets, the smallest blood cells, help blood clot and control bleeding.
  • Plasma, the pale yellow liquid part of whole blood, is a mixture of water, proteins, electrolytes, carbohydrates, cholesterol, hormones, and vitamins.


What Are Blood Types?


  1. O positive
  2. O negative
  3. A positive
  4. A negative
  5. B positive
  6. B negative
  7. AB positive
  8. AB negative




Where Does the Blood Come From?

Because there's no substitute for blood, the blood supply used for transfusion must be donated. The three types of blood donation are:

Autologous (pronouced: ah-TOL-uh-gus) blood donation. This is when someone donates their own blood ahead of time for a planned surgery or other procedure.

Directed donation. This is when a family member or friend with a compatible (good fit) blood type donates blood specifically for use by a patient in need of transfusion.

Volunteer donation. There's no medical proof that blood from directed donors is any safer than blood from volunteer donors. So most patients receive blood donated through blood drives. These are often run by agencies like the American Red Cross. The minimum age for donating blood is 16 or 17 years old, depending on where a person lives.

What Happens During a Blood Transfusion?

When someone gets a transfusion:

  • Blood is given through a needle placed in a vein.
  • The needle is attached to thin plastic tubing that connects to a plastic bag containing the blood.
  • The vital signs (temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate) are checked before, during, and after the transfusion.
  • A nurse watches for any signs of an allergic or other type of reaction, including rash, fever, headache, or swelling.

Transfusions usually take 1 to 4 hours, depending on how much blood is given and the person's blood type. Someone getting a transfusion can sit comfortably in a reclining chair or lie down on a bed, watch a movie, listen to music, or play quietly, and might be able to eat and drink, walk around a bit, and use the bathroom.

After the transfusion, the plastic tube is removed from the vein and a bandage is placed over the area. The site may be slightly sore or tingly for a little while. Medicine may be given for any mild side effects, such as fever or headache.

Are There Any Risks to Blood Transfusions?



Also, the needles and other equipment used are sterile, and are used only on one person and then thrown away in special containers.

What Are the Benefits of Blood Transfusions?

In people with anemia or those getting chemotherapy, the greatest benefit of a transfusion is increased blood flow to nourish the organs and improve oxygen levels in the body. This can keep them from feeling too tired and help give them enough energy for the activities of daily life. Benefits like this often are felt fairly quickly.

For patients with bleeding problems, transfusions with platelets or plasma can help to control or prevent bleeding problems.


Reviewed by: Kate M. Cronan, MD
Date reviewed: January 2019