Wow - blood is amazing!

haaammit

haaammit

haaammit

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I suffer from bad nosebleeds and usually stuff my snout with tissue until it clots and stops, but today I decided to collect the blood in a small container to see what happens to it. I collected about 100mls before I got bored and plugged my nose up!

Within a few minutes the blood had gone from being very runny to a congealed jelly like mass. It's really hard to describe the texture, but it looks similar in viscosity to frog spawn, with a very thin red liquid floating on top.

Obviously this is how our bodies stop bleeding, by coagulating and clotting around the wound, but it's the first time I've actually observed blood doing it! I was amazed at how quickly it congealed to a spongy mass though.

No real reason to this post, I just found it interesting. If the blood is kept moving it won't coagulate - that's why when you donate blood the bag is kept moving all the time, although I don't know if they add an anticoagulant - anyone know?
 
Blood clots upon trauma because platelets within the blood collide and rupture releasing a clotting agent. We learnt this in high school science class but yep its still very interesting.
 
I highly doubt they add an anticoagulant would be rather dangerous to transfer it into a patient that needs blood with an anticoagulant included.

Afaik the blood is separated into components and stored in a fridge (Red blood cells) for up for 35 days. Pretty sure platelets are stored seperatly thus preventing the blood from clotting. Rest idk about.
 
Mynight said:
I highly doubt they add an anticoagulant would be rather dangerous to transfer it into a patient that needs blood with an anticoagulant included.
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Ah good point - maybe it's to do with exposure to air then - the blood bags are empty and (I guess) have no air in, combined with the continual rocking must prevent the coagulation.
 
Well I was close but wrong;

Most blood is run through a centrifuge seperating components. After which they're stored as so;
When test results are received, units suitable for transfusion are labeled and stored
Red Cells are stored in refrigerators at 6ºC for up to 42 days
Platelets are stored at room temperature in agitators for up to five days
Plasma and cryo are frozen and stored in freezers for up to one year
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Admittedly this is the Red Cross but I'd assume it's a fairly universal practise.
 
HybridX said:
Consider this then... if you like marmite... its a yeast extract.... thrush is a yeast infection... i'll let you make the connection!


Still want some marmite?
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No difference between mould and cheese, the the idea of alcohol...letting things ferment for ages.

Can you imagine putting a barrel of water away for 18 years and then drink afterwards?
 
Is it true that some people blood does not coagulate and they need to take something to make it do so? Likewise, some people blood gets too think and they need aspirin or something to thin it?
 
Guest2 said:
Is it true that some people blood does not coagulate and they need to take something to make it do so? Likewise, some people blood gets too think and they need aspirin or something to thin it?
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Yeah some people have a disease called Von Willebrand disease(there's other but this is the most common iirc) which lacks certain clotting abilities afaik there's no cure only management involving transfusions and a hormone replacement.

The thick blood one can be caused by a lot of factors I believe warfarin is the most common blood thinner used here. Aspirin afaik prevents clots from forming compared to warfarin which lengthens the time taken to clot.

( mother had afib so kinda clued up on clotting risks).
 
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