Malta National Blood Transfusion Service
         
Services
 
Autologous Blood Transfusion Service
For anyone wanting to donate blood for oneself for planned elective surgery one must be:
a) referred by the operating surgeon
b) have an official referral form duly filled in and signed
c) present oneself ideally six weeks prior to surgery

Referral forms can be obtained form the National Blood Transfusion Service or Mater Dei Hospital Surgery or Gynaecological Outpatient Department. The same principle of regular donation apply. That is, if one cannot donate for others, one cannot donate for oneself. For example, if one had an infective disease such a hepatitis, one cannot donate for others nor to oneself. Final acceptance for this procedure is prerogative of the NBTS officials. Not everyone is eligible for autologous transfusion.

Blood Grouping Service
This service is provided from 8.15 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., weekdays, from the age of 16. Tests are always performed on a blood sample taken from a vein. Under 18 years of age a parent/guardian consent is required. Blood group results and cards are always sent by normal mail.

Directed Donations
Anyone who wishes to donate blood to a particular patient might do so although this is not recommended by the department. If the patient is a blood relative, the blood needs to be irradiated in order to inactivate the white blood cells of the donor. The white blood cells of the donor might attack the red blood cells of the patient in blood relatives. This is known as Graft Versus Host Disease. In all cases a written consent from the patient is necessary stating the acceptance of the donation and any consequences that may occur as a result. All particulars are included in this consent. One should present himself/herself at the NBTS, a week before the donation.

  

Counseling Service to Donors
Available to donors considered to need particular counseling.

Supply of processed, fully screened, blood grouped Blood and Blood Products to all Hospitals, Private Clinics and Homes.
These include:
- Red Cell concentrates
(White cell removed, leucodepleted,i.e filtered)
- Cryoprecipitates
-Single donor and pooled platelets (Leucodepleted)
- Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP)
- Frozen Plasma Cryodepleted

A Basic Biochemical Screen for regular blood and platelets donors (history of 2 years regular donations) comprising Serum Cholesterol, Triglycerides and Glucose testing can be done every 2 years, by appointment. For an appointment one can call on 22066201.

Therapeutic procedures such as Plasmaphaeresis (Plasma Exchange) and Cytaphaeresis (Leukophearesis) are available to patients after the necessary referrals and consultations.

Other services include screening of antenatal patients (blood grouping and antibodies), screening of newborn infants for Haemolytic Disease of the Newborn, screening of patients for auto-immune haemolytic anaemias and investigation of transfusion reactions.

  
           
      Laboratory Testing