http://www.physorg.com/news94824321.html



The Biggest issue with the blood supply is there isn"t ENOUGH DONORS.

Patients like Jehovah"s Witnesses DO use the blood banks for their various blood "fractions" but refuse to donate themselves.

No blood "substitutes" exist at this time only red cells will carry oxygen.With emerging medical advancements it"s just a matter of time before the Red Cross blood drive collection becomes obsolete.

The risk of HIV transmission through transfusion is ONLY 1 in 2,135,000. In addition to testing, the risk is reduced by asking donors questions about HIV risk factors and symptoms. "The chance of contracting AIDS from a blood transfusion in the UK is less than 1 in 2,000,000.

This is classified as a negligible risk, of the same order as the chance of being struck by lightning.

The risk of dying in a road accident is approximately 250 times greater than the risk of AIDS from a blood transfusion, and 25 times greater than the risk of catching hepatitis B or hepatitis C.