Should a donor need a medical examination at a medical institution as a result of subcutaneous hemorrhaging, nerve damage, or other injuries to their well-being (secondary effects from giving blood) caused during the donation process, they are entitled to receive a fixed monetary compensation. In 2006, a compensation system was established for blood donors who are adversely affected by the process of donating blood. Additionally, the JRCS is currently considering introducing techniques aimed at reducing infectious agents, as well as measures to prevent transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI), a serious post-transfusion adverse reaction. Examples of primary safety measures implemented to date include identification of the donor, retrospective studies, retaining deposits of fresh frozen plasma, improving the accuracy of nucleic acid amplification testing (NAT), removal of leukocytes, and diversion of first drawn blood prior to storage. In order to ensure the safety of blood products, the JRCS implements a variety of safety measures. The latter is a factor that the JRCS especially takes into consideration. Some centers are also being restructured to accommodate a greater number of people without jeopardizing each patient's comfort or safety. For example, some donation centers have a child-friendly waiting room so as to encourage parents to contribute. The JRCS is creating blood donation rooms that cater to the needs of the local community. Act on Securing Quality, Efficacy and Safety of Products Including Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices). Today, the blood program functions reliably and effectively through collection and distribution entities whose operations are in strict compliance with related laws (e.g. In 1982, a transition to a genuine blood donation system based on the principle of voluntary and unpaid blood donation was carried out.

To avoid repeating the errors of the past, the JRCS, in cooperation with the national and local governments, works to maintain blood donation facilities with effective screening capabilities and strives to spread and popularize the concept of donating blood. Infected blood collected from paid donors developed into a social problem referred to as 'yellow blood.' As a result, there were numerous occurrences of patients developing post-transfusion hepatitis after being infected by blood products collected from paid donors who had unhealthy lifestyle practices. Instead, the practice of paid blood donations initiated by private blood banks was widespread. The concept of non-remunerated blood donations was uncommon at the time. This was primarily a blood deposit system that gave special consideration to donors they would be placed on a priority list for blood transfusions in the future. In 1952 the Japanese Red Cross Society Tokyo Blood Bank was established and blood program operations began. The JRCS is the only organization in Japan collecting and supplying blood for use in transfusions. Thank you very much for your understanding and cooperation. For this reason, we cannot accept donations from individuals who are unable to understand and respond in Japanese. Both of these steps will take place on site at any of our blood donation facilities. Under the blood donation policy and for safety reasons regarding the person donating blood, we are required to ask you to fill out a mandatory pre-questionnaire in Japanese, and have a certified physician conduct a preliminary medical examination for blood donation in Japanese. Thank you very much for your support and kind consideration.

To those who are considering donating blood within Japan: Blood collected by way of voluntary, non-remunerated donations from healthy individuals saves the lives of countless patients on a daily basis. Blood cannot, as of yet, be manufactured through artificial processes. Thanks to the generous donations, the Japanese Red Cross Society is able to deliver blood products to medical institutions across the country.īlood transfusion plays an important life-saving function in the treatment of malignant neoplasms (cancer), hematological diseases and other disorders.

Red cross blood drive