In the event an emergency blood transfusion is required, a "Walking Blood Bank" is available. The "Walking Blood Bank" is made up of "safe donors" from within the Expatriate Community whose blood types are on file with the Health Unit. If blood is needed, it is important that those who donate blood test negative to serious transmitted diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis. It is also important that the present lifestyle and the previous medical history of the donor not present the minimal, but real risk that a serious, transmittable infection is present but not yet detected by usual screening tests. A "safe donor", then, is one who is both free of infection and who lives in such a manner that he is unlikely to carry such infections.

Persons are excluded from the "Walking Blood Bank" program if they have any of the following risk factors:

History of hepatitis:

Persistent cough, diarrhea, unexplained weight loss, night sweats or other recent illness within the past month.
Presently taking medications other than malaria prophylaxis or are under Medical care for any chronic disease or illness.
Receipt of any transfusion of blood or any blood products in the past.
Any confirmed diagnosis of cancer, leukemia or bleeding disorder.
Any lifestyle pattern which presents a risk for contracting HIV infections, such as:

males who have sex with other males
unprotected sex within the past 3 months with any person of either sex whose HIV status is unknown
persons who have ever taken illegal drugs by needle

In this age of HIV infection, the lifestyle exclusion question should be answered truthfully and should be taken seriously as a definite risk factor to both the donor and to the recipient.

If an employee or member of the family is age 17 or older and is not excluded by the criteria listed, he or she is encouraged, but not required, to become a member of the "Walking Blood Bank". All members of the Tashkent International Medical Clinic are eligible for the services of the "Walking Blood Bank" whether or not they are participating donors.