Autologous
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In biology, autologous refers to cells, tissues or even proteins that are reimplanted in the same individual as they come from.
For instance, bone marrow or cartilage (http://www.nice.org.uk/page.aspx?o=13461) may be donated autologously.
Autologous blood donation
In blood banking terminology, autologous refers to a blood donation marked for use by the donor, often in an upcoming scheduled surgery.
Advantages are:
- Blood type will always match, even with a rare blood type or antibody type
- Transfusion is safer as the risk of infectious disease such as hepatitis or HIV is avoided
- Donations made in this way need not be tested for blood borne diseases
- The risk of allergic reactions or incompatibility is avoided
The primary disadvantages are the significantly higher cost and the need to make all necessary arrangements well in advance. Autologous blood is stored at one specific hospital clearly labelled for use by one specific patient; if it is not used by that patient, it is discarded.
There is also the risk that, in an emergency or if more blood is required than has been set aside in advance, the patient could still be exposed to donor blood instead of autologous blood. Autologous donation is also not suitable for patients who are medically unable to or not advised to give blood, such as cardiac patients or small children and infants.
Directed blood donation
Directed donations are blood from donors chosen by the patient or family, usually a friend or relative with the same blood type.
Directed blood donors must meet the same criteria as regular blood donors.
See also
- American Red Cross (http://www.bloodct.org/Autologous.htm)
- NIH (http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/prof/blood/transfusion/logo.htm)
- PBS - Red Gold (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/redgold/basics/autologoustrans.html)
- Are autologous donations cost-effective? (http://www.jr2.ox.ac.uk/bandolier/band17/b17-3.html)
- BloodBook (http://www.bloodbook.com/autolog-1.html)