Blood Donation - Mayo Clinic (2023)

overview

Donating blood is a voluntary process that can help save lives. There are different types of blood donation. Each type helps meet different medical needs.

donating whole blood

Donating whole blood is the most common type of blood donation. During this donation, you give about a pint (about half a pint) of whole blood. The blood is then separated into its components - red blood cells, plasma and sometimes platelets.

Subtraction

During the removal, you are hooked up to a machine that collects and separates the different parts of your blood. These blood components include red blood cells, plasma, and platelets. The machine then returns the remaining portions of blood to you.

• Platelet donation (platelet transfusion)only collects platelets. Platelets are cells that help stop bleeding by sticking together and forming plugs in blood vessels (thrombosis).

  Platelet donors are usually given to people with blood clotting problems or cancer and to people who are going to have organ transplants or major surgery.

• Double donation of red blood cellsallows you to donate a concentrated amount of red blood cells. Red blood cells supply oxygen to organs and tissues.

  Donated red blood cells are usually given to people who have severe blood loss, such as after an injury or accident, and to people who have anemia (low hemoglobin levels).

• Plasma donation (plasmapheresis)collects the liquid part of the blood (plasma). Plasma helps blood to clot and contains antibodies that help fight infections.

  Plasma is commonly given to people in emergency and trauma situations to stop bleeding.

  See Also

  Living Donor Transplantation - Mayo ClinicHow much does IVF cost?Blood test, quarantine and releaseDonor nephrectomy - Mayo Clinic

Why did this happen?

You agree to have your blood collected so that it can be given to someone who needs a blood transfusion.

Every year, millions of people need a blood transfusion. Some may need blood during surgery. Others rely on it after an accident or because of an illness that requires certain parts of the blood. Donating blood makes everything possible. There is no substitute for human blood - all transfusions use blood from a donor.

scratchs

Donating blood is safe. New, sterile and disposable equipment is used for each donor, so that there is no risk of blood contamination through blood donation.

Most healthy adults can safely donate half a pint (about half a pint) without any health risk. A few days after donating blood, the body replaces lost fluids. And after two weeks, your body replaces the lost red blood cells.

How are you preparing?

eligibility requirements

To be eligible to donate whole blood, plasma or platelets, you must:

• In good health.
• At least 16 or 17, depending on your state's law. Some states allow minors to donate blood with parental consent. While there is no legal upper age limit, policies may vary from donor center to donor center.
• At least 110 pounds (about 50 kg).
• May go through physical assessments and health history.

Eligibility requirements vary slightly depending on the type of blood donation.

food and drugs

Antes de just sangue:

• Get a good night's sleep the night before you plan to donate blood.
• Eat a healthy meal before donating blood. Avoid fatty foods like hamburgers, fries and ice cream.
• Drink plenty of water before donating blood.
• Check to see if any medications you are taking or have recently taken prevent you from donating blood. For example, if you are a platelet donor, you should not take aspirin for two days before donating. Talk to a member of the healthcare team before stopping your blood donation medication.
• Wear a shirt with sleeves that can be rolled up.

what can you expect

before the procedure

Before you can donate blood, you will be asked to complete a confidential medical history. Includes questions about behaviors known to increase the risk of bloodborne infections - bloodborne infections.

Due to the risk of blood-borne infections, not everyone can donate blood. Here are the groups that are not eligible to donate blood:

• Anyone who has used an injection drug, steroid, or other substance not prescribed by a healthcare professional in the last three months
• Men who have had sex with other men in the past three months
• Anyone with congenital clotting factor deficiency
• who tested positive forHIV
• Anyone who has had sex for money or drugs in the past three months
• Anyone who has been in close contact with – lived with or had sex with – anyone who has viral hepatitis in the past 12 months
• Anyone who has ever had babesiosis, a rare and serious tick-borne disease, or a parasitic infection, Chagas disease

You will also have a brief physical exam. The exam includes checking blood pressure, pulse, and temperature. A small blood sample is taken from a finger prick and used to check the part of the blood that carries oxygen (hemoglobin level). If your hemoglobin is within the healthy range and you meet all other screening requirements, you can donate blood.

concerns about COVID-19

The virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has not been shown to be transmitted by blood transfusions. However, the US Food and Drug Administration suggests delaying blood donation for at least 10 days after a positive diagnostic test.COVID 19no symptoms or for at least 10 days after symptom onsetCOVID 19completely disappeared.

People who test positive forCOVID 19Antibodies who have not undergone a diagnostic test and never develop symptoms may be donors with no waiting period or no diagnostic testing prior to donation.

If you get a non-replicating, inactivated, or mRNA-based responseCOVID 19vaccine – the only forms of vaccine currently approved in the United States – you can donate blood with no waiting period.

during the process

Lie or sit in a reclining chair with your arm stretched out on the armrest. If you prefer which hand or vein is used, let the person taking the blood know. A blood pressure cuff or cuff is placed around the upper arm to fill the veins with more blood. This makes the veins more visible and makes it easier to insert the needle. It also helps fill the blood bag faster. The skin on the inside of the elbow is then cleaned.

A new, sterile needle is inserted into a vein in your arm. This needle is attached to a thin plastic tube and a bag of blood. After the needle has been inserted, give the wrist a few squeezes to help the blood flow from the vein. First, blood is collected into test tubes. The blood then fills the bag, about half a pint (about half a pint). The needle is usually left in place for about 10 minutes. Once the donation is complete, the needle is removed, a small bandage is placed over the needle site, and the bandage is wrapped around the arm.

Another blood donation method that is becoming more common is ablation. During removal, you are hooked up to a machine that can collect and separate different parts of your blood, such as red blood cells, plasma, and platelets. This process allows you to collect more than one item. This takes longer than a typical blood donation - usually up to two hours.

after treatment

After your donation, take a seat in the observation area where you can relax and have a light snack. After 15 minutes you can leave. After donating blood:

• Drink extra fluids.
• Avoid vigorous physical activity or heavy lifting for about five hours.
• If you feel dizzy, lie down with your legs up until the sensation passes.
• Keep the bandage dry for the next five hours.
• If bleeding occurs after removing the dressing, apply pressure and lift the arm until the bleeding stops.
• If bruising occurs, periodically apply a cold compress to the affected area within the first 24 hours.
• Consider adding iron-rich foods to your diet to replace iron lost through blood donation.

Contact a blood center or doctor if:

• You forgot to report important health information to the blood center.
• You have symptoms of illness, such as a fever, a few days after donating blood.
• they are diagnosedCOVID 19within 48 hours after blood donation.

Results

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Your blood will be tested to determine your blood type and Rh factor. The blood type is classified as A, B, AB or O. The Rh factor refers to the presence or absence of a specific antigen - a substance capable of stimulating an immune response - in the blood. You will be classified as either Rh positive or Rh negative, which means that you either carry the antigen or not. This information is important because the blood type and Rh factor must match the blood type and Rh factor of the person receiving the blood.

Your blood will also be checked for blood-borne diseases such as hepatitis andHIV. If these tests are negative, the blood is distributed for use in hospitals and clinics. If any of these tests are positive, the donor center will notify you and your blood will be rejected.

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