The Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization or acronymly IBTO ( fa, سازمان انتقال خون ایران) is the highest and only decision-making authority in the field of supply and distribution of healthy

blood Blood is a body fluid in the circulatory system of humans and other vertebrates that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells, and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells. Blood in the c ...

and blood products in

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...

. This organization was established in July 31, 1974.

History

Before 1945, sporadic

blood transfusions Blood transfusion is the process of transferring blood products into a person's circulation intravenously. Transfusions are used for various medical conditions to replace lost components of the blood. Early transfusions used whole blood, but mod ...

were performed in different hospitals in

, but there is no reliable evidence in this regard. In 1952, the "''Army Blood Bank''" was established by "''Dr. Mohammad Ali Shams''" and blood transfusion center of Red Lion and Sun Society was established by "''Dr. Ahmad Azhir''" and both started to work simultaneously. In the field of blood products, the "''Army Blood Center''" from 1961 onwards provided cellular products (dense

red blood cells Red blood cells (RBCs), also referred to as red cells, red blood corpuscles (in humans or other animals not having nucleus in red blood cells), haematids, erythroid cells or erythrocytes (from Greek language, Greek ''erythros'' for "red" and ''k ...

and dense

platelets Platelets, also called thrombocytes (from Greek θρόμβος, "clot" and κύτος, "cell"), are a component of blood whose function (along with the coagulation factors) is to react to bleeding from blood vessel injury by clumping, thereby ini ...

) and plasma (

Cryoprecipitate Cryoprecipitate, also called cryo for short, is a frozen blood product prepared from blood plasma. To create cryoprecipitate, fresh frozen plasma thawed to 1–6 °C is then centrifuged and the precipitate is collected. The precipitate is re ...

and

fresh frozen plasma Fresh frozen plasma (FFP) is a blood product made from the liquid portion of whole blood. It is used to treat conditions in which there are low blood clotting factors (INR > 1.5) or low levels of other blood proteins. It may also be used as the re ...

) to a limited extent, and in the same years in collaboration with the Pasteur Institute of Iran took action to purify

blood plasma Blood plasma is a light amber-colored liquid component of blood in which blood cells are absent, but contains proteins and other constituents of whole blood in suspension. It makes up about 55% of the body's total blood volume. It is the intra ...

and prepare its products. With the establishment of the ''"Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization"'' in 1974, several years of efforts were achieved and blood transfusion was legalized in Iran. In fact, before 1974, several centers in Iran with limited facilities in hospitals, the army and the Red Lion and Sun Society were working to provide blood to patients in need, but with the establishment of the ''"Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization"'' by Fereydoun Ala in 1975, this system entered a new phase. Professor Fereydoun Ala is the founder of the ''"Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization"'' and it can be said that he is the most experienced employee of the Blood Transfusion Organization. Currently, the ''"Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization"'' is the highest and only decision-making authority in the field of supply and distribution of blood and healthy blood products in Iran, and all decisions related to blood products are directly related to this organization. Initially, all the expenses of this organization were provided from the budget of the whole country in the form of aid. In July 17, 1979, After the victory of the

Islamic Revolution The Iranian Revolution ( fa, انقلاب ایران, Enqelâb-e Irân, ), also known as the Islamic Revolution ( fa, انقلاب اسلامی, Enqelâb-e Eslâmī), was a series of events that culminated in the overthrow of the Pahlavi dyna ...

in Iran and following a general revision of the country's budget, the Blood Transfusion Organization became a government agency affiliated with the Ministry of Health and became subject to the government's general regulations. With the beginning of the

Iran–Iraq War The Iran–Iraq War was an armed conflict between Iran and Iraq that lasted from September 1980 to August 1988. It began with the Iraqi invasion of Iran and lasted for almost eight years, until the acceptance of United Nations Security Council ...

in 1980 and the increasing need for blood in the country, the activities of the organization grew significantly and the need for coordination between all departments related to blood transfusion medicine was evident. Therefore, with the approval of the

Islamic Consultative Assembly The Islamic Consultative Assembly ( fa, مجلس شورای اسلامی, Majles-e Showrā-ye Eslāmī), also called the Iranian Parliament, the Iranian Majles (Arabicised spelling Majlis) or ICA, is the national legislative body of Iran. The P ...

on May 23, 1984, the ''"Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization"'' was announced as the sole custodian of blood supply and blood products in Iran. After the approval of the Articles of Association, to form the executive structure of the organization, three deputies of ''"production and technical"'', ''"research and education"'', ''"administration and finance"'' were designed and implemented. The organization was governed by a five-member High Council composed of experts selected by the Minister of Health, Treatment and Medical Education. In 1995, the plan of the country's blood supply network was approved and implemented by the Supreme Council. Based on this plan, the ''"Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization"'', in the form of nine bases of educational regions, will carry out the programs and responsibilities that are prepared and coordinated in the central headquarters of the organization. The establishment day of the ''"Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization"'' on July 31, 1974, has been registered in the national calendar of Iran as the ''"National Day of Blood Donation"''. Nowaday, forty-six years after the establishment of the ''"Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization"'', Iranians have donated 52 million units of blood since the establishment of the organization. At present, the ''"Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization"'' has made Iran one of the leading countries in the

Eastern Mediterranean Eastern Mediterranean is a loose definition of the eastern approximate half, or third, of the Mediterranean Sea, often defined as the countries around the Levantine Sea. It typically embraces all of that sea's coastal zones, referring to communi ...

region in terms of blood donation index, and with 100% voluntary and unannounced blood donation, it has the first rank in blood donation in this region.

Activities in the country

In 1978, in addition to

Tehran Tehran (; fa, تهران ) is the largest city in Tehran Province and the capital of Iran. With a population of around 9 million in the city and around 16 million in the larger metropolitan area of Greater Tehran, Tehran is the most popul ...

, blood transfusion centers were established by the ''"Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization"'' in 3 cities of

Shiraz Shiraz (; fa, شیراز, Širâz ) is the List of largest cities of Iran, fifth-most-populous city of Iran and the capital of Fars province, Fars Province, which has been historically known as Pars (Sasanian province), Pars () and Persis. As o ...

Mashhad Mashhad ( fa, مشهد, Mašhad ), also spelled Mashad, is the List of Iranian cities by population, second-most-populous city in Iran, located in the relatively remote north-east of the country about from Tehran. It serves as the capital of R ...

and

Ahvaz Ahvaz ( fa, اهواز, Ahvâz ) is a city in the southwest of Iran and the capital of Khuzestan province. Ahvaz's population is about 1,300,000 and its built-up area with the nearby town of Sheybani is home to 1,136,989 inhabitants. It is hom ...

. According to the latest statistics of 2013, all blood transfusion centers, including 124 permanent blood collection centers, 32 collection and processing center and 58 blood transfusion centers, are a total of 214 centers, which operate in 31

provinces of Iran Iran is subdivided into thirty-one provinces ( fa, استان ''ostân''), each governed from a local centre, usually the largest local city, which is called the capital (Persian: , '' markaz'') of that province. The provincial authority is h ...

. At present, the capitals of all the provinces of Iran have blood transfusion centers in which there are test sections for

screening Screening may refer to: * Screening cultures, a type a medical test that is done to find an infection * Screening (economics), a strategy of combating adverse selection (includes sorting resumes to select employees) * Screening (environmental), a ...

on donated blood, preparation of products and quality control. Also, 35 counties of Iran have blood transfusion centers that are equipped with facilities for all product preparation processes and

tests on every donation unit for

infection An infection is the invasion of tissues by pathogens, their multiplication, and the reaction of host tissues to the infectious agent and the toxins they produce. An infectious disease, also known as a transmissible disease or communicable dise ...

with

Hepatitis B Hepatitis B is an infectious disease caused by the ''Hepatitis B virus'' (HBV) that affects the liver; it is a type of viral hepatitis. It can cause both acute and chronic infection. Many people have no symptoms during an initial infection. Fo ...

virus A virus is a submicroscopic infectious agent that replicates only inside the living cells of an organism. Viruses infect all life forms, from animals and plants to microorganisms, including bacteria and archaea. Since Dmitri Ivanovsky's 1 ...

Hepatitis C Hepatitis C is an infectious disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) that primarily affects the liver; it is a type of viral hepatitis. During the initial infection people often have mild or no symptoms. Occasionally a fever, dark urine, a ...

virus,

HIV The human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) are two species of ''Lentivirus'' (a subgroup of retrovirus) that infect humans. Over time, they cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in which progressive failure of the immune ...

virus and

serological Serology is the scientific study of serum and other body fluids. In practice, the term usually refers to the diagnostic identification of antibodies in the serum. Such antibodies are typically formed in response to an infection (against a given mi ...

testing for

Syphilis Syphilis () is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium ''Treponema pallidum'' subspecies ''pallidum''. The signs and symptoms of syphilis vary depending in which of the four stages it presents (primary, secondary, latent, an ...

and other necessary tests.

Duties

Blood donation by members of the Iranian Red Crescent Society

The main duty is to provide adequate blood supply and blood products (cellular and plasma); healthy, with excellent quality to maintain and promote health and improve the quality of life of patients in Iran and hold the superiority of the Eastern Mediterranean region. Other duties include: * Encourage and collect blood donation volunteers * Implementing educational programs to make people aware of blood donation * Expansion of blood supply network throughout the country * Establishment of mobile units and local bases in different areas of cities for blood collection * Perform safety tests and grouping to prepare blood and blood products * Distribution of blood and its products to health centers, hospitals and other organizations and institutions * Production of various blood products (plasma, cellular and similar) as defined by the

Ministry of Health and Medical Education The Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME) has executive responsibility for health and medical education within the Iranian government. The MOHME comprises five departments headed by deputy ministers: # Research and Technology #Educati ...

* Preparation and implementation of educational programs required by the medical group and affiliated medicine within the scope of the organization's duties in accordance with the educational rules and regulations of the country * Scientific researches in the field of determining and completing appropriate methods for preparation of blood and plasma products, specific researches in the fields of

Immunohaematology Immunohematology is a branch of hematology and transfusion medicine which studies antigen-antibody reactions and analogous phenomena as they relate to the pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of blood disorders. A person employed in this field ...

Immunochemistry Immunochemistry is the study of the chemistry of the immune system. This involves the study of the properties, functions, interactions and production of the chemical components (antibodies/immunoglobulins, toxin, epitopes of proteins like CD4, a ...

and chemistry of proteins and related fields, and conducting clinical and basic researches * Tissues grouping for organ transplantation and white blood cell transfer * Diagnosis of blood coagulation disorders * Determining the standard conditions for collecting, storing blood and plasma fractions, equipment used, issuing cards and medical conditions allowed for blood donation * Material and spiritual encouragement of blood and plasma donors for their cooperation and preparation of some products

Organizational chart

Organizational structure of the ''"Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization"'' is as follows:

Criteria for blood donation

The Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization has defined these criteria for voluntary blood donation: * Minimum age 18 years and maximum 60 years * Minimum weight 50 kg * Blood donation intervals of 56 days with a maximum of four donations per year for men and three donations per year for women * Having an

identity card An identity document (also called ID or colloquially as papers) is any documentation, document that may be used to prove a person's identity. If issued in a small, standard credit card size form, it is usually called an identity card (IC, ID c ...

The fate of donated blood

The ''"Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization"'' use the donated bloods and its products to treat the following: * Premature children * Injuries * Cancers * Heart diseases * Problems during childbirth * Surgeries * Liver and kidney diseases *

Sickle cell disease Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of blood disorders typically inherited from a person's parents. The most common type is known as sickle cell anaemia. It results in an abnormality in the oxygen-carrying protein haemoglobin found in red blo ...

Leukemia Leukemia ( also spelled leukaemia and pronounced ) is a group of blood cancers that usually begin in the bone marrow and result in high numbers of abnormal blood cells. These blood cells are not fully developed and are called ''blasts'' or ' ...

Anemia of chronic disease Anemia of chronic disease (ACD) or anemia of chronic inflammation is a form of anemia seen in chronic infection, chronic immune activation, and malignancy. These conditions all produce elevation of interleukin-6, which stimulates hepcidin product ...

Thalassemia Thalassemias are inherited blood disorders characterized by decreased hemoglobin production. Symptoms depend on the type and can vary from none to severe. Often there is mild to severe anemia (low red blood cells or hemoglobin). Anemia can result ...

major *

Haemophilia Haemophilia, or hemophilia (), is a mostly inherited genetic disorder that impairs the body's ability to make blood clots, a process needed to stop bleeding. This results in people bleeding for a longer time after an injury, easy bruising, ...

Facts about blood donation

According to the ''"Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization's"'' educational brochures: * 2 out of every 100 people in Iran are blood donors * Blood cannot be made and the only source of supply is blood donation * One unit of donated blood can help treat three people * Treats which needs blood transfusion, requires an average of three units of blood and its product * Each donor can donate whole blood or other blood components such as plasma, platelets and red blood cells * Blood and its products have special storage times and conditions. The red blood cell product can usually be stored in the refrigerator temperature for up to 35 days.

References

External links

IBTO ENGLISH

Introduction to Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization and Blood Safety in Iran

The Scientific Journal of Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization

WHO: World Blood Donor Day is in the official calendar of events for Iran

Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization (IBTO) Newsletter – November 2019

Iran National Blood Transfusion Policy; Goals, Objectives and Milestones for 2011-2015

IRNA: Blood donated in Iran safest in world

Introduction to Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization and Blood Safety in Iran
{{DEFAULTSORT:Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization 1974 establishments in Iran Medical and health organisations based in Iran Government agencies of Iran