You can’t anticipate when you, a loved one, or friend will need a transfusion. On any given day, according to the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), an average of 34,000 units of red blood cells are needed by patients in the United States. Other kinds of blood products, such as platelets or plasma, are also needed each day. You can choose to donate whole blood, platelets or plasma and all three types of donation are valuable to patients cared for in the United States Health System. Blood transfusions are commonly used to replace blood loss from trauma such as a car accident; platelets are used for patients with low platelet counts, such as cancer patients going through chemotherapy; and plasma is used to treat patients with clotting disorders. Each time you donate blood several people might be helped by a single donation.
Is it safe to donate blood?
Yes. Sterile, disposable needles are used for each new donor, and after a needle is used, it is destroyed. There is no risk of transmitting an infection from one donor to another through the donation process.
Who can donate?
You must be in good health and at least 17 years of age to donate blood, although some states permit younger people to donate if they have parental consent.
Most blood banks have no upper age restrictions. Minimum weight requirements may vary depending upon where you are donating, but 110 pounds is generally an accepted guideline.
Who can’t donate?
You may not donate if:
- you have ever used a needle to administer a non-prescription drug
- you have AIDS or HIV infection
- you are male and have had sexual contact with other men
- you are a hemophiliac
- you have certain parasitic infections
- you have Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD or “Mad Cow” disease) or if someone in your immediate family has CJD
- you have had hepatitis since your eleventh birthday
How often can I donate blood?
Generally every 8 weeks (56 days) if you are donating whole blood. If you are donating other blood components, such as platelets or plasma, you may donate more frequently depending on local blood collection guidelines.
How safe is the blood supply?
The blood supply is the safest it has ever been due to several layers of security that have been put into place to ensure that blood donations are not compromised. Both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and individual blood centers work very hard to ensure that the blood supply is safe:
- All blood centers and hospitals that collect blood are required to register with the FDA.
- Facilities registered with the FDA are inspected at least once every other year.
- Federal regulations require that donors are asked a variety of health history and lifestyle questions. This very direct screening process has reduced the number of unsuitable donors.
- Federal regulations also require that once a donor is accepted, his or her blood is tested for several infectious diseases, and if positive, the blood not be used for transfusion.
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