By Dawn Anderson, Communications Volunteer

What happens after you roll up a sleeve to give blood? One donor had the unique experience of tracing his blood from his arm to the hospital.

Edward “Eddie” Lai, Senior Manager of Life Sciences & Digital Health at Metro Atlanta Chamber, has donated blood since high school. Giving blood has become a routine for him over the last ten plus years but at a recent tour of the American Red Cross Blood Manufacturing Facility and Immunohematology Reference Laboratory in Douglasville, he got a glimpse of what happens after the blood is drawn and the cookies in the refreshment station are eaten.

During a tour of one of the largest blood distribution centers in the nation for the Red Cross, Eddie mentioned that he had given blood just days ago. The lab technician suggested they look to see if Eddie’s blood was somewhere in the facility. They were able to trace his personal transfusion through the process using a unique donor identification code. “Seeing your transfusion and knowing where it went and how it was used to save someone makes it more real,” he explained. He also shared that while always aware of the potential lives saved by each donation (up to three individual lives possibly impacted by every donation), this experience “brought home the importance of regular faithful donations.”

During each whole blood donation, about one pint of blood is collected along with several small test tubes of blood. The donation, test tubes and donor record receive a bar code which allows the information to stay linked throughout the process. The donated blood goes to the Red Cross lab for processing while the test tubes go to a lab where the samples are tested for type and infectious disease. If any sample tests positive, that information is transmitted back to the processing center and the donation is safely discarded.

Meanwhile, at the processing center, the blood donation is processed using centrifuges to separate it into transfusable components such as red cells, platelets, and plasma. Each component is packaged as a unit that doctors will use to administer transfusions to those in need. During his tour, Eddie learned that the transfusable components are stored until used or expired. Red blood cells remain viable for up to 42 days while platelets expire in 5 days. Other components such as plasma may last up to one year in storage before expiration.

These supplies are used by hospitals and doctors in emergencies to supplement any in-house blood banks they may maintain. As Eddie pointed out, having resources like the Red Cross Blood Manufacturing Facility and Immunohematology Reference Laboratory nearby allows hospitals and other healthcare organizations to sustain in the Georgia region. In his role with the Metro Atlanta Chamber, Eddie understands how important this infrastructure is to our future development as a city. He also understands the impact one single donation can have on up to three lives.

The donation’s journey didn’t end at the processing plant. Eddie received a notification shortly after his tour that his donation had arrived at a hospital and was being used to save lives. From a donation center to processing to patient – Eddie was able to actively track his donation and see the impact it made.

The need for blood is constant. Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. To make an appointment to give blood or platelets, donors can use the Red Cross Blood App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).