What is a blood transfusion?
A blood transfusion is the process of getting new donor blood infused into one's blood stream. Blood transfusions are usually given to people who are undergoing some medical treatment for illnesses such as Sickle-cell disease or Cancer to replace blood components that may have been lost during treatment. Early blood transfusions were comprised of whole blood being transfused into one's system. However, now patients who receive blood transfusions are only receiving the aspects of blood that they need such as Red-Blood cells, White-Blood cells, Plasma, etc. Having someone else's blood transfused into one's system can be a way of spreading disease, so lab scientists and doctors go through an extensive screening process to be sure the blood is safe.
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