A blood transfusion is rarely needed for nutritional anemia. It may be needed if RBCs are at a very low level. Transfusions will boost healthy RBCs right away. They will only provide temporary relief. Other treatment will need to be done to make sure the body is making enough new RBCs.
The blood is donated. It's screened fully before being given to someone else.
References
Anemia. American Society of Hematology website. Available at: http://www.hematology.org/Patients/Anemia. Accessed February 13, 2020.
Anemia in Adults-Approach to Patients. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/approach-to/anemia-in-adults-approach-to-the-patient . Updated September 27, 2019. Accessed February 13, 2020.
Anemia in Older Adults. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/anemia-in-older-adults . Updated November 27, 2017. Accessed February 13, 2020.
Anemia. National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute website. Available at: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/anemia. Accessed February 13, 2020.
Complete blood count (CBC). Lab Tests Online—AACC website. Available at: https://labtestsonline.org/tests/complete-blood-count-cbc. Updated January 11, 2020. Accessed February 13, 2020.
Vieth JT, Lane DR. Anemia. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 2017 Dec;31(6):1045-1060.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board Marcin Chwistek, MD
- Review Date: 09/2019
- Update Date: 10/30/2020