How do blood donors help people with sickle cell disease?
Why transfusions matter
Sickle cell disease affects red blood cells. Many people living with it rely on transfusions to manage pain crises, prevent strokes, and stay healthy. Some need blood regularly over many years.
Why matching matters
Repeated transfusions work best when the donated blood closely matches the patient's own. Closely matched blood lowers the chance of the body reacting to it.
Why diverse donors are needed
Some blood characteristics are more common within particular ancestral groups, so a donor base that reflects patients increases the chance of a close match. Compatibility is always confirmed by laboratory testing.
Blood matching is complex. Similar ancestry can increase the chance of compatibility for some patients, but compatibility is determined by blood testing.
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Read the full pledgeSources and review
The guidance on this page reflects published criteria from these organizations. Eligibility and procedures vary by center and country, so confirm specifics with your donation center.
- American Red Cross Sickle Cell Initiative
- AABB: diversity in the donor pool
- American Red Cross: eligibility requirements
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- Medium confidence