Directed Blood Donation

Directed blood donation, also called designated donation, is when a person, often a family member, donates blood earmarked for transfusion to one specific recipient rather than to the general blood supply. It is relatively uncommon where an established volunteer blood supply already exists, though a related replacement donor model, in which friends or family replace blood used in a recipient's transfusion, is common in developing countries. Blood from a genetically related family member carries extra risk to the recipient and normally must be irradiated to prevent serious complications, and family donors may also feel pressured to conceal health problems, which can make directed donation less safe than donation from screened volunteer donors.