Another type of blood donation is autologous donation. This refers to transfusions in which the blood donor and the transfusion recipient are the same. People may elect to do this before a surgical procedure in which the likelihood of needing a transfusion is high. Although there are still risks with this process, autologous donation minimizes many of them because it is the person's own blood that is being returned to his or her body.
A person can donate their blood up until 72 hours prior to their surgery. Iron supplements or erythropoietin also may be prescribed to help increase the person's red blood cell count. Any blood that remains unused during the surgery is usually discarded. However, the blood can be transfused into another patient if it has been fully tested and is compatible with the recipient.
According to the National Blood Collection and Utilization Survey and AABB, autologous blood accounted for 2.1% of all donated blood in 2006. The use of this type of donation varies by location, and not all physicians recommend it. There has been some concern about low hematocrit levels following surgery in patients who donate autologous units. The decision should be made together by the patient and his or her doctor. Other options may be preferred, such as intra-operative blood salvage, in which any blood lost during the surgery can be collected and returned to the patient.