Blood stocks shoot up
2004-12-08 10:23
Johannesburg - In spite of a race row, the SA National Blood Service's (SANBS) stocks have increased "dramatically" since Monday, the service said in a statement on Wednesday.
The increase followed an appeal by the organisation for all regular Group O donors to help boost stocks ahead of the holiday season.
The service's Group O blood stocks have climbed from a 5.3-day supply to a seven-day supply.
On Monday the organisation had 2 950 Group O units in stock but this has increased to 4 617. This is only 495 units short of the required eight-day supply.
"We have received wonderful support from the community and this has enabled us to continue our core business of saving innocent patients' lives," said Diane de Coning, director of SANBS's donor services division.
"We asked Group O donors specifically to donate blood, as blood from this group is always in demand. In an emergency situation, Group O blood can be given to any patients," De Coning said.
Meanwhile, the service and the department of health would meet on Saturday for continued discussions over the use of race as one of several factors to form a risk profile for donated blood.
The risk profile is intended to reduce the possibility of donated blood containing the HI virus, which causes Aids.
According to SANBS statistics, only 5% of blood donors in the inland areas, which form the majority of their supplies, are black.
- SAPA