What You Must Know Before Giving Blood

What You Must Know Before Giving Blood(source)

The table below describes the phases involved in giving blood.

Phase	Description
1	You will be asked for a form of identification each time you donate and register by giving us the same information each time you donate: Name Date of birth Social security number
2	We will do a mini-physical examination that includes checking: Your temperature Your blood pressure and pulse A drop of your blood to be sure you have enough red blood cells to donate safely
3	You will be asked about your past and present health and lifestyle, and we will answer any questions you may have. NOTE: This interview will be private and confidential.
4	You will be given a form so you can let us know, privately, whether your blood is safe to give to another person.
5	We will cleanse an area of the arm you will be using to donate. All of the supplies, including the needle, are sterile and are used only once -- for you.
6	When we start the actual donation, several things occur: At the beginning you may feel a brief "sting" from the needle The donation usually takes about 10 minutes You will have given about a pint of blood when finished. Your body will replace the plasma (liquid part), in hours and the cells in a few weeks.
7	When you are finished, you will be given a form with: Post-donation instructions A number to call if you decide after you leave that your blood may NOT be safe to give to another person.
8	Although most people feel fine before and after donating blood, a small number of people may have a(n): Upset stomach Faint or dizzy feeling Black and blue mark, redness, or pain where the needle was. NOTE: Very rarely, a person may faint, have muscle spasm, and/or suffer nerve damage.

Who can NOT be a blood donor

You should NOT give blood if you have:

Had hepatitis on or after the age of 11
Had malaria in the past 3 years
Been in a correctional facility (including jail, prison, or detention center) for more than 72 straight hours in the last 12 months
Had or been treated for syphilis or gonorrhea or tested positive for syphilis in the past 12 months
Been raped in the last 12 months
AIDS or one of its symptoms, including

Unexplained weight loss (10 pounds or more in less than 2 months)
Night sweats
Blue or purple spots on or under the skin
Long-lasting white spots or unusual sores in your mouth
Diarrhea lasting longer than one month
Persistent cough and shortness of breath
Fever higher than 99 degrees F lasting more than 10 days

Done something that puts you at risk for becoming infected with HIV, the viruses that cause AIDS. You are at risk for getting infected if you have:

Taken illegal or non-prescription drugs by needle, even once
Taken clotting factor concentrates for a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia
Tested positive for any AIDS virus
Been given money or drugs for sex, since 1977
Had a sexual partner who puts you at risk for AIDS infection. This means:

You have had sex in the last 12 months with someone who is at risk for being infected with the AIDS virus (described above)

If you are a male, and had sex even once with another male since 1977; or within the last 12 months, given a female money or drugs to have sex with you

If you are female, within the last 12 months, given anyone money or drugs to have sex with you; or had a male sex partner who had sex with another male even once since 1977

Been born in, or lived in, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Niger, or Nigeria, since 1977

Since 1977, received a blood transfusion or medical treatment with a blood product in any of these countries
Had sex with anyone who, since 1977, was born in or lived in any of these countries

Ineligible donors

We maintain a confidential list of people who may be at risk for spreading transfusion-transmitted diseases. When required, we report donor information, including test results, to health departments, military medical commands, and regulatory agencies. Donation information may also be used confidentially for medical studies.

Testing your blood

Your blood will be tested for syphilis, HIV (the virus that causes AIDS), hepatitis and other factors. We will notify you if tests show you may be unhealthy. Your blood would NOT be used if it could make someone sick. (A sample of your blood or portion of your donation might be used now or in the future for additional tests or other medical studies. Please tell us if you object.)

Do not give blood to find out whether you test positive for the virus (HIV) that causes AIDS. Though the tests we use are very good, they are not perfect. HIV antibodies may take weeks to develop after infection with the virus. If you were infected recently, you might have a negative test result, yet be able to infect someone. That is why you must not give blood if you are at risk of getting AIDS or other infectious diseases. We can tell you where to get an AIDS test anonymously.

Source: American Red Cross Blood Services, document ARC F6628MWP (2/97) <Back to top>