NATIONAL BLOOD SERVICES
National Blood Services Office
2/F PRC Bldg. Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Manila
Phone: 527-0000 loc. 122 (Director) and 123 (Staff)
National Blood Center
1/F PRC Bldg. Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Manila
Phone: 527-0000 loc. 106 (Reception) and 102 (Manager),
or 528-1164 (Staff/ Donor Recruitment Office)
ISO 9001:2008-Quality Management
System
Frequently Asked Questions
About
The Blood Program of the Philippines operates in
accordance with the provisions of the National Blood
Services Act of 1994 or Republic Act (R.A.) 7719. In
tripartite cooperation with the Department of Health and the
Philippine Blood Coordination Council, the Philippine Red
Cross (PRC) is one of the key organizations tasked to
provide safe blood to the country through its active role in
advocacy, promotion of voluntary blood donation, donor
retention and care and the operation of a network of 74
Blood Service Facilities all over the country.
Profile
The PRC gives comprehensive blood services, which include
donor recruitment, collection and storage of blood, blood
testing, processing and supply to the hospitals in
accordance with the provisions of R.A. 7719.
Donor Recruitment
In its continuous efforts to serve the increasing demand for
blood in the country, the PRC Blood Services conducts
voluntary blood donor education and recruitment to
communities, different companies, organizations and schools
nationwide.
These donor recruitment sessions aim to intensify the
campaign for the important role of Voluntary Unpaid Donors
in sustaining national blood requirement and the specific
qualifications to be a voluntary blood donor.
Blood Collection
In 2012, the 76 PRC Blood Services Facilities had a total
collection of 315,000 units. This accounts to 45% share of
the nation's 2011 blood supply. The National Blood Center
and PRC Blood Centers assist and support other PRC Chapters
in their blood collection drives, by providing additional
manpower and campaign materials when deemed necessary.
Blood Collection
In line with mandate of the Philippine Red Cross, the
organization shall provide blood assistance to both rich and
less fortunate clients. Safe and quality blood carries costs
that most indigent patient cannot afford. And though blood
itself is free, collecting and processing of one (1) unit of
safe and quality whole blood costs P 1,500.00. The PRC
operates a Blood Samaritan Program. This means that in cases
when the hospital could not meet the blood requirements of a
patient due to the inability of the patient to pay, patients
will be assisted by this Red Cross project.
PRC Blood Samaritan Project is aimed mainly at assisting
indigent patients needing blood transfusion. The Philippine
Red Cross seeks kind-hearted agencies that are willing to
give financial donations to support the health care needs,
specifically the blood requirements of charity patients.
Likewise, individuals can donate money to cover the payment
of blood processing fees of legitimate indigent patients.
Blood Testing
To ensure that the blood we collect is safe for transfusion,
we perform blood tests for Malaria, Syphilis, Hepatitis B &
C, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Blood Typing (both
ABO and Rh typing). All blood units found reactive or
positive in any of the abovementioned
transfusion-transmitted infections are quarantined and
retested. Blood units found reactive twice are labeled "not
for transfusion-for confirmatory testing," quarantined and
then sent within 48 hours to appropriate center for
confirmatory testing.
Blood Component Processing
Some of the PRC Blood Centers have facilities that separate
blood into components using special equipment called
refrigerated centrifuge. Thus, when you donate blood, you
help save 3 lives.
Voluntary Blood Donor Recognition
We have instituted different recognition awards to sincerely
acknowledge and thank the individuals and corporate groups
that untiringly help us attain our mission. Blood Galloners
pins, certificates, medals and plaques of appreciation are
just some of the small tokens we give during our Annual
Blood Donors Recognition Ceremony, which is held every month
of July in celebration of the Blood Donor's Month.
Sustainability
The costs of comprehensive blood services management are
raised through different sources, main of which are:
- Cost contribution by the consumers;
- Cash donation from the government (national lottery and
local government units); and
- Some kits and reagents from the Department of Health and
local government units.
How to Avail Blood
1. Secure a blood request from the hospital. The details
should include the following data (request with incomplete
data will not be honored):
a. Name
b. Age and gender
c. Citizenship
d. Diagnosis
e. Blood type (ABO and Rh type)
f. No. of units/ components of blood needed
g. Requesting physician's signature
h. Name of the hospital of confinement
2. Proceed to the PRC Blood Services Facility nearest you.
3. Wait for the proper instruction/ advice regarding the
availability and issuance of blood.
Rh Negative Registry
Rh is a blood group system aside from ABO. We are
familiar with the ABO Blood Group System wherein blood types
would be; A, B, O, AB. In Rh Blood Group System, you will be
typed as Rh positive/ (+) if you have the Rh antigen, and Rh
negative/ (-) if none.
In the Philippines, approximately <1% of the population
are Rh negative and >99% are Rh positive. Because of
inadequacy of Rh negative blood, a Registry was established
in 1999.
The National Registry of Rh Negative and Other Rare Blood
Types was established to gather all individuals with rare
blood types in the country. A joint project of the Rotary
Club of Pasig, the Department of Health - National Voluntary
Blood Services Program, the Philippine Red Cross, and the
Philippine Association of Rh Negative and Other Rare Blood
Types, the Registry aims to make Rh negative blood readily
and efficiently available.
How to avail Rh negative blood
1. Fax the blood request to 02-521-3929 with the following
data (request with incomplete data will not be honored):
a. Name
b. Age and gender
c. Citizenship
d. Diagnosis
e. Blood type (ABO and Rh type)
f. No. of units/ components of blood needed
g. Contact person, with contact number and address
h. Requesting physician's signature
2. Confirm at 02-521-3929 whether or not they received the
blood request. As soon as the registry receives the blood
request, we will look for possible blood donors.
3. Wait for the proper instruction/ advice regarding the
availability and issuance of blood.
4. To follow up your request, you may contact 02-521-3929 or
0918-918-6531.
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