Healthy Living: Blood Bank in Pandemic
It’s Medical Laboratory Professionals’ Week – a time set aside to recognize and show appreciation for the medical laboratory technologists who are an integral part of the healthcare system. They are always working behind the scenes. Today, we checked in with the blood bank in Belize City to hear about the ongoing work that the lab techs are doing to secure Belize’s blood supply.
Marleni Cuellar, Reporting
The blood bank building by no means was ever a space that was bustling with activity. But as we’ve shown in previous stories, there’s usually a lot more activity than we saw today. The bare quiet waiting room and vacant chairs in the donation room match the complete slow down of business across the country.
Lionicia Goff
Lionicia Goff, Medical Laboratory Technologist, Central Medical Lab/Blood Bank
“Before the pandemic, how many samples would you have collected a day. Ok, sometimes we do a minus of about ten or fifteen when it comes to replacement, and when it comes to our blood drive, we would have a bigger amount when we do on a Saturday. Now we have decreased by maybe eighty percent of that.”
Marleni Cuellar
“So you’re seeing like two people.”
Lionicia Goff
“So we’re getting like two to four since this whole thing.”
An eighty percent drop in blood donations within the past month. Under normal circumstances, this would be a dire situation for the country. But the lockdown and change in protocols at the hospitals also triggered a drop in demand for blood.
Adrian Martinez
Adrian Martinez, Medical Laboratory Technologist, Central Medical Lab/Blood Bank
“The supply and demand there has a balance at this time. As you know, hospitals have been going through emergency modes, which means that elective surgeries have been canceled, and other activities have been canceled. So we saw that in favor of the blood bank.”
Lionicia Goff
“Due to the whole situation and the emergency state that the country is seeing right now, we have been decreased practically 100% with gunshots, gun violence with road traffic accidents. These were the people who mostly used to use our blood drive stocks.”
Even the handful of blood donations the blood bank sees per day are already accounted for, as most donors are giving on behalf of someone else. They are known as replacement donors. As for voluntary donors, whose blood is most necessary during emergencies, the blood bank is hoping that the volunteers will continue to donate. Since the restrictions on mass gatherings and the closure of schools, the bank has not been able to host any blood drives. So, if the need arises, they may have to go looking for donors.
Adrian Martinez
“So there is a balance at this moment. However, we cannot predict what will be in the future. In any event, we may get low on blood bank, we may go out to the different areas where there is no impact from the pandemic, the communities in the rural areas, the Mennonites communities that they don’t have direct interaction with the communities that are more exposed.”
In the meantime, they have adjusted their schedule to accommodate donors within the social distancing regulations. No more than two donors at a time and no more than three in the waiting room. Family members are not allowed to tag along. And donations can be made on an appointment basis only.
Lionicia Goff
“If you have a need and we can schedule your time to come. So you don’t have to worry about being exposed to other people. We can deal with you just one on one just you and the technologist. If you don’t have time you cannot make it during the week from Monday to Friday you can also contact us and we can try to accommodate you during the weekend. If anybody is out there and you know you’re healthy, you haven’t been exposed to anybody with COVID-19 or you’re consider your non-high risk and you willing to donate. We are here.”
And while the blood bank is a part of the central medical lab, and the blood donations are screened for many infectious diseases. They are NOT tested for COVID-19. According to the United States Food and Drugs Administration, “respiratory viruses are not known to be transmitted by blood transfusion, and there have been no reported cases of transfusion-transmitted coronavirus.”
Adrian Martinez
“The testing of the blood is basically the same as before. It doesn’t include COVID-19. You know we have a rigorous set of questionnaires, which is you are a healthy donor. You will come in and donate blood. If you have any signs or symptoms of flu, runny nose, sore throat, and fever. That is automatically temporarily deferred you from donating blood. That’s always been the case.”
Lionicia Goff
“Do it because you care to give this blood to somebody. Just don’t do it because you want to come to blood bank. You think the blood bank testing for a series of test. We don’t test for COVID-19 at the blood bank. We ask people to be conscious and be honest. Do things for love. Do things to help somebody.”
Currently, the demand for blood is from patients with sickle cell anemia, renal failure, pregnant women, and those being treated for cancer. Additional blood donors are always needed, especially those with negative blood types. To make an appointment for a donation, you can call 224-5010.
