Sarah Walbolt։ Have You Ever Wondered What Actually Happens to Your Donated Blood?
Sarah Walbolt, Program Manager at University of Utah Health, Chief Executive Officer Sanguine Health Holdings Inc, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“Have You Ever Wondered What Actually happens to Your Donated Blood?
Most people donate blood and never think twice about what happens next.
But behind the scenes, donated blood goes through a fascinating and carefully monitored journey.
Here is what is happening to those red blood cells from the moment they leave your body:
What Happens to Donated Blood Over Time:
- Red blood cells can be stored for up to 42 days – but they are not just sitting still during that time
- Potassium leaks out of the cells gradually as they age in storage
- Oxygen transport declines- meaning older stored blood is less efficient at delivering oxygen to the body
- Acid levels rise – the pH of stored blood changes over time, making it more acidic Cells become less fresh red blood cells are soft and bendable, allowing them to squeeze through tiny blood vessels; older stored cells lose that ability.
- Cells become less flexible – fresh red blood cells are soft and bendable, allowing them to squeeze through tiny blood vessels; older stored cells lose that ability.
Why does this matter?
Understanding how blood ages in storage helps medical teams make smarter decisions about which blood to use, when, and for whom, especially for vulnerable patients like newborns, cancer patients, and those in critical care.
Did you know donated blood has a shelf life?
Share this with someone who would find this fascinating!
Follow our page for more blood health content, and subscribe to our YouTube channel for more in-depth health education.”
Stay updated with Hemostasis Today.
-
May 19, 2026, 13:08Robin Young: Complex PCI and the Challenge of Balancing Ischemic and Bleeding Risk
-
May 19, 2026, 11:50Nigusu Tesema: What Is Deep Vein Thrombosis and Why Does It Matter After Surgery?
-
May 19, 2026, 11:50Jason Bobay: Highlights Data-Driven DVT Prevention in International Compression Conference
-
May 19, 2026, 11:50Karl Egan: PEDNET Registry Insights Into Inhibitor Development in Severe Haemophilia A
-
May 19, 2026, 11:15Sarah-Anne Nicholas: Excited to Share My First-Author Publication from My PhD Research
-
May 19, 2026, 10:45Jonathan Douxfils: Why Measuring NETosis Remains a Major Challenge in Translational Research
-
May 19, 2026, 10:39Maria Berghs: Rising Demand for Blood Donations in Sickle Cell Care
-
May 19, 2026, 10:27Amer Zeidan: Looking Forward to Sharing New AML Data at ESH 2026
-
May 19, 2026, 09:38Heghine Khachatryan: Why DVT in Elderly Patients Requires Special Attention?