Sunday, January 18, 2004

Super Platelets...

By nature, I'm not terribly altruistic. Years of military service taught me the perils of volunteering.

However -- as I mention below in the August 29th post -- folk with my blood profile are always in demand at the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center. Due to a donation habit ingrained while at Annapolis, I overcome a general aversion to needles and am usually pretty good about giving. Its about the only truly decent thing I do on a routine basis.

Note: I have no problem with others getting stuck by needles and would not hesitate to stick others or even myself if required.... I'm just not partial to getting stuck. Chalk it up to the way too many Novocain injections required for the 15 dental extractions inflicted on me during my formative years. Yuck.

Anyway... I gave platelets the week before taking off for Europe and since my return have admittedly been lackadaisical about scheduling an appointment. As an uber procrastinator, I have no problem admitting this personal failing.

After receiving pleading emails detailing a critical shortage and a phone call from my representative, I finally found myself with a needle in my arm this past Wednesday. Nothing unusual there -- my blood is always needed and the screening process tends to be a breeze.

The biggest stumbler for most women is the iron screening which I ace -- this time pegging a 15.7 g/dL -- well above the minimum required Hemoglobin score of 12.5 g/dL. I've only failed the finger tip prick test twice -- both times when I was clocking over 30 miles a week and eating too little my plebe year.

The only thing unusual about this particular donation process is I was asked for red blood cells as well as platelets. Normally I donate a double unit of platelets. (My platelet count is always pretty high -- usually in the high 380s -- allowing them to suck out extra. Normal is from 150 to 400.) But this red blood thingie was a first.

The tech explained the blood shortage is really acute right now -- what with the Holidays and flu season -- that my cells were really, really needed and they would be tagged for the Santa Rosa neonatal. Put that way -- how could I say no?

So -- you may be wondering what makes my blood so great. Well for one thing -- I'm an O+ -- universal donor, yada yada.

But more important than that -- I'm negative for the Cytomegalovirus (CMV).

For those too lazy to click the link above and read up on CMV -- here are the essentials: 50% to 80% of the adult population in any given region is positive. San Antonio is evidently on the high side. CMV is a lifelong infection and the initial symptoms are flu-like. CMV can be transmitted through transfusion. Exposure can be dangerous, possibly fatal for patients with compromised immune systems.

So my grade A universal donor prime crude is that much more valuable due to its CMV negative status -- fit for the sickest premature babies and folk undergoing organ and tissue transplant surgery.

Since CMV status can change without any symptoms, my donation is tested each time for the virus. What with the negative impact of CMV on the blood supply, you would think there would be a vaccine out there....

But no dice. Yet another medical priority considered less important than developing Viagra.

posted by Bohica at 5:59 PM