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How long does
it take to give blood?
The process for whole blood
donation usually takes about one hour. The blood
collection itself is usually about 10 minutes. The
donation process includes registration, a brief
medical screening, blood collection and refreshments.
Expect to spend about two hours for apheresis
(platelet) collections.
How much blood is taken?
Whole blood and apheresis
(platelet) donations are about 1 pint. One pint is
roughly equal to 1 pound.
How often can I give?
Donate whole blood every 56
days. Red blood cells are the oxygen carrying cells.
They can take two weeks or longer to fully return to
normal.
Donate platelets (apheresis donation) as much as twice
in one week -- or up to 24 times per year. Platelet
and plasma components are replaced in the body more
quickly than red cells. Platelets will return to
normal levels within a few hours of donating. Plasma,
the watery substance of your blood, takes a couple of
days.
What are platelets?
Platelets are tiny cell
fragments that circulate throughout the blood and aid
in blood clotting. Platelets are also known as
thrombocytes.
How much blood do I have in
my body?
Women have about 10 pints, and
men about 12 pints of blood in their bodies.
Are there age limits for
blood donors?
17 years old is the minimum
blood donor age. (In some states, 16-year-olds may
donate.) There is no upper age limit.
Is it safe to give blood?
Yes. Donating blood is 100
percent safe. You cannot get HIV or any other
infectious diseases from donating blood.
Is it safe to receive blood?
Yes. The blood supply is the
safest it's ever been, especially since the
implementation of nucleic acid-amplification testing
(NAT) under an FDA-sponsored research protocol. NAT is
a more sensitive gene-based test to screen the blood
supply for HIV and hepatitis C. Fourteen tests are
performed on every unit of donated blood. Eleven of
these are for infectious diseases.
General safety procedures are also in place: blood
donor eligibility standards, individual screening,
laboratory testing, confidential exclusion of
donations and donor record checks.
What is the universal blood
type?
Type O negative is the universal
donor and can give blood to any other blood type.
Eight percent of the U.S. population has blood type O
negative.
AB positive is the universal
recipient and can receive blood from any other blood
type. Two and a half percent of the U.S. population
has blood type AB positive.
How long until my blood is
used?
All blood donations are
processed and available for use between 24 and 48
hours. Whole blood is processed into components (red
cells, platelets, plasma). After processing, the red
cells can be stored for 42 days. Plasma can be frozen
and stored for up to 12 months. Platelets (from whole
blood or by apheresis) expire after five days.
Are the health history
questions necessary every time?
Yes. Screening questions must be
asked of all donors at each donation. This is an FDA
requirement that helps blood centers ensure the safest
possible blood supply.
Do ABC members pay donors
for giving blood?
America's Blood Centers members
are volunteer donor supported organizations. They do
not pay for blood donations. FDA rules say that blood
used for transfusions cannot be "bought." Studies show
that volunteer donors provide a safer blood supply.
Why do blood shortages
occur?
A three-day supply is the
optimum blood inventory level. The inventory changes
hourly due to unpredictable demands from trauma
incidents. When the supply drops below a three-day
level, blood centers begin alerting local donors to
increase the inventory to a safe operating level.
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