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Blood Donation FAQs
Click Here to see the Donation Process  Can I donate blood?To donate blood, you must be in good health, 16 years of age (16 year olds need completed and signed parental permission form) or older and weigh a minimum of 102 pounds. Top
Will donating blood hurt?You may feel a slight sting in the beginning
lasting only a couple of seconds, but there should be no discomfort
during the donation. Can I get AIDS from donating blood?No. There is no risk of contracting AIDS or any
other disease through the donation process. Each collection kit is
sterile, pre-packaged and used only once. Do I have enough blood in my body to donate?Yes. The body contains 10 to 12 pints of blood.
Your whole blood donation is approximately one pint. How much blood is taken during a donation?For a whole blood donation, approximately one pint
(which weighs about one pound) is collected. For a platelet
donation, the amount collected depends on your height, weight and
platelet count. How long will the actual donation process take?A whole blood donation takes about 5-10 minutes.
The entire donation process, from registration to post-donation
refreshments, takes about one hour. Is there anything I should do before I donate?Be sure to eat well at your regular mealtimes and
drink plenty of fluids. What is automation?Automation is the process of removing a specific
component of the blood, such as platelets, and returning the
remaining components, such as red blood cells and plasma, to the
donor. This process allows more of one particular part of the blood
to be collected than could be separated from a unit of whole blood.
Automation is also performed to collect red blood cells, plasma
(liquid part of the blood), and granulocytes (white blood
cells). Who needs automated products?Patients with cancer or leukemia, transplant
recipients and patients with blood disorders need automated
products. Am I eligible for automated donation?Donors must meet the same eligibility requirements
as a whole blood donor. In addition, because aspirin affects the
coagulation function of platelets, automated donors are asked not
to take aspirin or aspirin-like products (Advil, Motrin or
Ibuprofen) 48 hours prior to the scheduled appointment. Please feel
free to discuss your eligibility for this program with one of our
phlebotomists at any time before, during or after your whole blood
donation. How often may I donate?You may donate whole blood once every 56 days,
which allows plenty of time for your red cells to be replenished.
Automated donors may donate more frequently -- as often as once
every seven days and up to 24 times per year. This is because the
body replenishes platelets and plasma more quickly than red cells.
Platelets will return to normal levels within about 72 hours of
donating. Plasma (the liquid portion of your blood) will return to
normal levels within two days. Red blood cells (the oxygen-carrying
cells) will take approximately two weeks to reach their normal
levels. What does the term “donor deferral” mean?Individuals disqualified from donating blood are
known as "deferred" donors. A prospective donor may be deferred at
any point during the collection and testing process. Whether or not
a person is deferred temporarily or permanently will depend on the
specific reason for disqualification (e.g., a person may be
deferred temporarily because of anemia, a condition that is usually
reversible). If a person is to be deferred, his or her name is
entered into a list of deferred donors maintained by the blood
center, often known as the "deferral registry." If a deferred donor
attempts to give blood before the end of the deferral period, the
donor will not be accepted for donation. Once the reason for the
deferral no longer exists and the temporary deferral period has
lapsed, the donor may return to the blood bank and be re-entered
into the system. If I was deferred once before, am I still ineligible to donate?If your deferral is of a permanent nature, you will
be informed. Otherwise, the deferral time depends upon the reason
for deferral. Prior to each donation, you will be given a
mini-physical and medical interview. At that time, it will be
determined if you are eligible to donate blood on that particular
day. Can I still donate if I have high blood pressure?Yes, if your blood pressure in under control and
within the limits set in the donation guidelines. What if I'm taking aspirin or medication prescribed by my doctor?Aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen can affect platelets, a blood component
we can make from a whole blood donation. Automated platelet donors
must not take aspirin or NSAIDs 48 hours prior to donation.
Aspirin and NSAIDs inhibit the ability of platelets to aggregate or
function properly, thus causing them to be ineffective for up to 48
hours. Can I still donate even though I'm taking medication?Most prescription medications are not cause for donor
deferral, it is the medical condition that may cause the
deferral for donor safety reasons.
What is my donated blood tested for?After you have finished donating, a sample of your blood is sent to the lab for testing to ensure the blood supply is safe. Your blood is tested for:
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