Alright sir, I will pick each.
Can we really separate every single component of the blood?
Yes we can sir, almost all components of the blood can actually be separated if need be using more complex apheresis machine. Even the bone marrow cells can be harvested using apheresis to treat some type cancers. One of the major concern is adequate storage. E.g, platelets when collect must be placed on an shaker (machine that constantly mixes the platelets) if not, they will clump and become useless. Most cells of the blood required are rbc, wbc, platelets, plasma (from which other products can be made) and bone marrow cells. These cells are very important because they are the major cells indicated in haematological disorders (all diseases associated with blood).
But why can’t we just keep the entire given blood, but with the different components separated? Can't this be potentially useful for other patients?
Responding to this, ethical consideration is also considered. The approval of the patient must be sort before we can do this. Usually it is even very difficult to get donors for apheresis procedure.
Beside the above, the criteria for blood components donation is quite different from normal blood donation. Some patient might be fit to donate only platelets during apheresis but are not fit to donate their entire Blood because they could have underlying conditions that might cause other blood cells deficit hence, if collected, it can be detrimental to the health of the donor. Donors for example that have thrombocytosis (excessive increase in the production of platelets) can willing give up themselves for platelet apheresis (a therapeutic apheresis). The donated component can then be kept for use by another patient if need be. A particular component of blood might be normal in value, but not with others.
In addition, Before a patient is recruited for any particular type of apheresis, their blood parameters must be checked to be sure that they meet the minimum requirements, else they are rejected. Furthermore, the apheresis machine doesn't give room for collection of the whole blood of the patient, it is a like a cycle with a product collection chamber pre-designed to compulsorily return the unwanted blood components back to the donor.
These are some of the things looked into before a patient is set for apheresis procedure.
Hope I have been able to clear you sir?
Many thanks for this detailed answer. This clarifies a lot. Thanks also for pointing out the ethical issues. I was naively imagining that someone who would agree to donate their blood would also agree to donate it with the components separated. At my level, it does not make much difference but there are probably a lot of fine-prints I didn't get.
Have a very nice week!
Cheers!
Really sometimes one could be tempted to assume this and go ahead, but it is an easy way for medical lawyers to sap the hard earned money of medical practitioners. Medico-legal cases are easy way for lawyers cash out Big from Bank at our expense.. hahaha, we know their ways and we try as much as possible to avoid them
I mistakenly assumed that in this context, humans wold be honest. In fact, it is the same as everywhere ;)
Hahaha, true.
Do a have a great week ahead sir.