Blood Guro by the Transfusion Medicine Working Group

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Blood Guro by the Transfusion Medicine Working Group

BLOOD GURO and Klasmeyt Vlad
Kaalamanan, kasiyahan at katotohanan sa pagsalin ng dugo! 🩸
By the Social Media Subcommittee of the TMWG of PCHTM

KaDugo is KD Guro
KD guro is the Blood Guro
A project of the Social Media Subcommittee of the Transfusion Medicine Working Group (TMWG) of the Philippine College of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine (PCHTM)
PCHTM is the professional society of adult hematologists in the Philippines.

25/08/2025

For this week’s Medical Mondays, we’ll be discussing red cell transfusion timing—especially in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding. How important is the timing? Does it really affect outcomes? Let’s explore the evidence

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24/08/2025

Curious about blood donation or transfusion?
You’re not alone, many people have questions, and that’s why we have **o every !
From myths about who can (or can’t) donate, to clarifying transfusion practices, this is your space to ask, learn, and feel confident about everything related to blood safety and donation.
✅ Drop your questions.
✅ Let’s talk science in simple terms.
✅ Together, we’ll build safer and smarter transfusion practices.

Your question might even be featured in our next **o post!

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22/08/2025

Dugo para sa bayan, dugo para sa buhay. 🩸Salamat, sa ating mga bayani! Salamat, blood donors! 🇵🇭
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21/08/2025

🩸💡 TriviaThursday: High Blood Pressure & Blood Donation

❓ “I have high blood pressure. Can I still donate blood?”

✅ Yes — in many cases! If your blood pressure is within 100–140 mmHg (systolic) and 60–90 mmHg (diastolic) at the time of donation, you may be accepted.

🔬 Here’s what guidelines say:

Treated or stable hypertension does not increase the risk of adverse reactions during donation.

Uncontrolled hypertension, however, remains a concern for cardiovascular safety.

Sometimes, donor anxiety can cause a temporary spike in BP (the “white coat effect”).

⚠️ Blood donation sites use BP checks mainly for donor safety screening, not to diagnose hypertension.

Bottom line: If your BP is controlled and within the acceptable range, you can usually donate blood and help save lives. ❤️

📚 Reference: WHO. Blood donor selection: guidelines on assessing donor suitability for blood donation.

20/08/2025

Wait—Is That Even True?
“I’m on medication, so I can’t donate blood!”
🚫 Not always true! Being on medication doesn’t automatically mean you’re disqualified from donating blood.
👉 Many people taking maintenance medicines can still donate — for example, those on treatment for high blood pressure, diabetes, or cholesterol. Even vitamins and supplements are generally fine.
⚠️ However, there are some medications that require waiting or may make you ineligible, such as: blood thinners (e.g., warfarin, heparin); certain antibiotics or antifungals (during treatment), isotretinoin (for acne/skin conditions), recent chemotherapy or immune-suppressing drugs

Why? Some medicines may affect your blood quality or your own recovery after donation. That’s why honesty during screening is crucial to keep both donor and patient safe.

👉 Bottomline: Don’t self-disqualify! Let the trained blood bank team guide you.
📖 Reference:
World Health Organization. (2012). Blood donor selection: Guidelines on assessing donor suitability for blood donation. WHO Press.

That’s the heart of — busting myths, clearing doubts, and keeping blood donation safe for everyone.

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19/08/2025

🤰👩‍🍼Mga Nanay, tandaan: hindi agad pwede mag-donate ng dugo pagkatapos manganak o habang nagpapasuso. 🍼

🗓️Donate only 1 year after delivery or 3 months after weaning (whichever is longer).
🗓️ If breastfeeding, 3 months after weaning.

🩸Safe donation means healthier moms, healthier babies!

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18/08/2025

🩸🏥This week, we highlight the importance of auditing blood transfusions and how it shapes safer practices and better outcomes for the healthcare community

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17/08/2025

🩸 **o: May sakit ako na Polycythemia Vera, maaari ba akong mag-donate ng dugo?
💬 Kung may Polycythemia Vera (PV) ka, hindi ka pwedeng maging voluntary blood donor. Sa PV, sobra ang production ng red blood cells sa katawan. Isa sa main treatment ay therapeutic phlebotomy — parang pagdo-donate ng dugo, pero ginagawa para makontrol ang sakit.
Ang dugo mula sa therapeutic phlebotomy ay hindi pwedeng ipagamit sa ibang pasyente, dahil ito ay parte ng iyong treatment at hindi itinuturing na ligtas for transfusion.
Kaya importante ang regular na follow-up sa hematologist para sa tamang management.

❌ Tandaan: Therapeutic phlebotomy = treatment, hindi blood donation.

May mga tanong ka pa ba tungkol sa dugo at transfusion?
Don’t miss our posts, and keep your questions coming sa **o!

**o

15/08/2025

Lagi ka na lang pagod!😪 Nakakadulot ba ng anemia ang pagod? 🩸
Alamin kay Klasmeyt Vlad! 🤓
Di masamang magpahinga, huwag kalimutang pangalagaan ang sarili!
**o **o

14/08/2025

How Do We Check Platelet Transfusion Success?

In transfusion medicine, we don’t just give platelets — we measure the response.

Check platelet counts: before transfusion, 1 hour after, and 24 hours after.

📈 Expected rise in adults:�
🔹 Random Donor Platelets (RDP)→ +7,000–10,000/mm³ per unit�
🔹 Single Donor Platelets (SDP)→ +30,000–60,000/mm³ per unit

This monitoring ensures effectiveness, detects immune refractoriness, and guides optimal use of platelet products.

It’s not just about giving — it’s about proving it works. ✅

Reference: Philippine Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Rational Use of Blood and Blood Products and Strategies for Implementation

13/08/2025

MYTH: "Low platelet count? Just eat eggs and drink tawa-tawa tea—your platelets will go up in no time!"

Let’s clear this up…
While eggs are nutritious and tawa-tawa (Euphorbia hirta) is a popular herbal remedy in the Philippines, there’s no strong proof that these alone can reliably raise platelet levels, especially in serious conditions or blood disorders.
What Does the Science Say?
1. Eggs and Platelets
Despite their richness in nutrients, a controlled diet study found that consuming whole eggs (versus no eggs) in young, healthy adults actually lowered platelet counts, though still within the normal range. This suggests eggs aren’t a reliable way to boost platelets.

2. Herbal Remedies and Traditional Medicine
Some traditional herbs show potential, but evidence remains preliminary. For instance, red yeast rice, guava leaf extract, and date palm have been found—mainly in lab studies—to promote platelet production
In one human clinical study, over 70% of dengue patients had moderate platelet increases after herbal water of E. hirta—yet the changes were not statistically significant, and the sample size was small.

A study by Lucero et al. (Philippine Journal of Science, 2018; PMC5926475) found that while tawa-tawa extract showed some possible activity in lab settings, clinical results in humans remain inconsistent and not robust enough for it to be considered a standard treatment. Similarly, there’s no high-quality medical evidence that simply eating more eggs will reverse thrombocytopenia.

In summary, there is no solid evidence supports that eating eggs or drinking tawa-tawa or any herbal will reliably fix a low platelet count. These remedies are not substitutes for medical evaluation or treatment. If someone has low platelets, especially with symptoms or risk factors, the best step is to consult a healthcare professional.

Your health is more than just folklore—it deserves evidence and care.
Stay curious. Stay safe.
Catch you next !

References:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10490185/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5926475/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9961075/

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11/08/2025

🚨 Blood Donor Alert! Important Safety Announcement! 🚨

"I just donated blood, can I go back to work?" 🤔 This is a question we hear a lot, especially from our hardworking kababayans!

Your safety is our top priority! So please, give yourself that 12-hour rest. It's a small price to pay for your health and the well-being of others.

Thank you for your life-saving generosity! Let's donate responsibly. ❤️

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http://www.pchtm.org/

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