2.9
One method used by hospitals to monitor blood oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in patient's blood is to use a pulse oximeter. A small clip with a sensor is attached to the person's finger, earlobe or toe. A cable connects the sensor to the pulse oximeter machine. The colour of the blood changes according to the amount of oxygen that is dissolved in the blood. Blood that is high in oxygen is bright red while blood low in oxygen is a darker colour. The sensor emits a light signal that passes through the skin. The sensor measures the amount of light absorbed as it passes through the tissue and blood, and transmits the information to the pulse oximeter. A reading is given in a percentage form.
Pulse oximetry is used to monitor the level of oxygen in a person's blood during heavy sedation or anesthesia. This device is also used when a person is on a ventilator, artificial breathing machine, during stress testing, in sleep laboratories, when checking the body's response to different medications or to monitor a person with asthma or who is having trouble breathing.
Another method of analysing blood gases is with arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis machines. These can measure the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in a sample of blood by monitoring the rate of diffusion of these gases through artificial membranes which are permeable to these gases. When moving through a membrane, oxygen in the blood produces an electrical current while carbon dioxide changes the pH of the solution.
For more:
http://www.nda.ox.ac.uk/wfsa/html/u05/u05_003.htm
http://www.rcjournal.com/online_resources/cpgs/sabgacpg.html
2.10
When blood is donated, it can be used almost immediately as whole blood or it can be separated into its components. Whole blood is given to patients where major functions of the blood, such as oxygen carrying capacity, are impaired, or where more than 20% of blood has been lost and there is a decrease in blood pressure.
Some blood products
Red blood cells (RBCs)
RBCs help patients who need to be able to carry more oxygen. RBCs may also be used to help replace cells lost following significant bleeding.
Platelet concentrate
Platelets are essential for the coagulation of blood and are used to treat bleeding caused by conditions or diseases where the platelets are not functioning properly.
Fresh frozen plasma (FFP)
FFP is used mainly to provide blood components that coagulate the blood. FFP contains all coagulation factors in normal amounts and is free of red cells, white blood cells and platelets. It is used for patients who require immediate clotting effects, such as those undergoing warfarin therapy (blood thinning) or when massive transfusions have taken place.
Cryoprecipitate anti-haemophilic factor
Cryoprecipitate AHF is a concentrate of clotting proteins and is used for the treatment of von Willebrand disease (similar to haemophilia), replacement of the clotting proteins, fibrinogen, Factor XIII and Factor VIII when no other option is successful
There are a number of other things such as white blood cells and immunoglobins.
Taken straight from HSC online