Transfusion Therapy Health Article

Injection

—Forcing a fluid into the body by means of a needle and syringe.

Rh (rhesus) factor

—An antigen present in the red blood cells of 85% of humans. A person with Rh factor is Rh positive (Rh+); a person without it is Rh negative (Rh-). The Rh factor was first identified in the blood of a rhesus monkey.

QUESTIONS TO ASK THE DOCTOR

• Am I a candidate for autologous transfusion?
• Am I a candidate for a directed donation?
• How often will I have blood work done to determine my hemoglobin and hematocrit levels?
• Can I get a stem cell transfusion at this facility if I need one?
• Is a blood transfusion necessary before I have surgery?