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Frequently Asked Questions

 


Can Anyone Give Blood?

Most people can. In general anyone age 17 (16 with parent's permission) and over, who is in good health and weighs 110 pounds or more is eligible to donate. There is no upper age limit; the ability to donate depends on your health.


How Much Blood Is Taken During One Donation?

The amount of blood taken is approximately 450 ml or 1 pint. It is equivalent to about 10% of your total blood volume.


Does Donating Blood Hurt?

You will feel a slight pinch when the needle is inserted. Most people do not find this uncomfortable.


Can One Donation Really Help?

YES! Each blood donation has the potential to become multiple products.


Who Needs Blood?

Five percent of all hospitalized patients receive blood transfusions. The average amount of blood a patient will use is approximately 3 pints. The most frequent users are patients with Cancer, Leukemia, Heart Disease, Gastrointestinal Disease, Traumas, Anemia and Liver Disease.


Can I Get A Disease From Donating Blood?

NO! All the supplies and equipment used are new, sterile and disposable after use.


How Often Can I Donate?

A person donating Whole Blood can donate every 56 days, or 6 times a year. A person donating Platelets has the potential to donate once every 72 hours, but no more than 24 times a year.


What Is Apheresis?

Through a process called Automated Blood Collection, donors can safely give many times the amount of plasma, platelets or Red Blod Cells (RBCs) than can be obtained from a whole blood donation. Blood is drawn from the arm through sterile tubing into a centrifuge. The force of the centrifuge causes the blood to separate into components which vary in weight and in density. The plasma, platelet or RBCs are then drawn into a collection bag, while the remaining blood components are returned to you.


Is Apheresis Donation Safe?

Yes. New, sterile donation equipment including needle, tubing, collection bags are used for each donor. Each donation is closely supervised throughout the procedure by trained staff.


What Is Plasma?

Plasma is the fluid portion of the blood -- the river which transports the Red Blood Cells, White Cells and Platelets through the body to nourish and protect tissue and organs. This pale yellow liquid is also rich in minerals and proteins which help control bleeding.


Who Needs Plasma?

Plasma is frequently used by trauma patients, burn victims and others fighting serious illness and injury.


What are Platelets?

Platelets are blood cells that help control bleeding. When a blood vessel is damaged, platelets collect at the site of the injury and temporarily repair the tear. Platelets then activate substances in the plasma which form a clot and allow the wound to heal.


Who Uses Platelets?

Many lifesaving medical treatments require platelet transfusions. Cancer patients, those receiving organ or bone marrow transplants, victims of traumatic injuries, and patients undergoing open heart surgery require platelet transfusions to survive.


How Quickly Do My Platelets Replace Themselves?

By three days about half of your donated Platelets have been replaced and by nine days your Platelet count should be at predonation levels. You should never donate Platelets more often than every 72 hours, and you should usually wait a week before your next donation. You may not donate Platelets more often than 24 times in a year.


What Is The Most Common Blood Type?

O-Positive
38%
A-Positive
34%
B-Positive
9%
O-Negative
7%
A-Negative
6%
AB-Positive
3%
B-Negative
2%
AB-Negative
1%