Blood Donation (Giving Blood)

The Basics

Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate пїЅ пїЅ

What is blood donation? " пїЅ Blood donation is the medical term for when a person gives (donates) blood. A person who donates blood is called a blood donor. People do not get paid for giving blood. People who give blood do it because they want to. пїЅ пїЅ

When a person gives blood, his or her blood goes to a "blood bank. " пїЅ There it is tested, made ready for use, and stored until it is needed. Hospitals can get blood from a blood bank to give to patients who need it. When a person gets donated blood, it is called a "blood transfusion. " пїЅ пїЅ пїЅ

Who might need donated blood? " пїЅ People might need donated blood if they: пїЅ пїЅ

Lose a lot of blood in an accident or during surgery
Have a medical condition that affects their blood

Some people have their own blood drawn and stored if they are planning to have surgery soon. That way, if they need blood during surgery, they can get their own blood. пїЅ пїЅ

Who can give blood? " пїЅ People can give blood at age 17 or older. (Some states let people give blood at age 16.) пїЅ пїЅ

People who want to give blood also need to be healthy and meet certain conditions. Meeting these conditions is important, because it helps to make sure that a donor is healthy enough to give blood. It also helps doctors make sure that the person getting the blood wont get an infection from the donated blood. пїЅ пїЅ

Some people want to give blood because they know their blood will be tested, and they want to know if they have certain infections, such as HIV. People who want to give blood for this reason aren't allowed to give blood. пїЅ пїЅ

To check that you meet all of the conditions for giving blood, a doctor, nurse, or trained staff person will ask you questions and do an exam beforehand. пїЅ пїЅ

What questions will I be asked before I give blood? " пїЅ A staff person will ask you questions about: пїЅ пїЅ

Medical conditions you have or had, including past surgeries
Any recent vaccines that you have gotten
How you feel that day " пїЅ You can't give blood if you don't feel well, have a fever, or are taking certain medicines.
Countries you have lived in or traveled to
Sex partners you have had " пїЅ Men who have had sex with men (even once) since 1977 can't give blood.
Any tattoos or body piercings you have
Any drug use
Your weight " пїЅ People who weigh less than 110 pounds (50 kilograms) are usually not allowed to give blood.
Your last blood donation " пїЅ People can't give blood too often.

What will the exam be like? " пїЅ The staff person will do a quick exam and check your temperature, blood pressure, and pulse (heartbeat). пїЅ пїЅ

He or she will also take a small amount of blood from your fingertip to make sure that you do not have a condition called anemia. People with anemia can feel tired or weak, because their body does not have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen. If you have anemia, you can't give blood. пїЅ пїЅ

What happens when I give blood? " пїЅ You will sit or lie back in a comfortable chair. The staff person will put a needle in your arm. The needle will stay in place while blood is collected from your arm. Giving blood takes about 15 minutes or less. пїЅ пїЅ

After you give blood, another staff person will give you some snacks and drinks. He or she will also watch you for a short time to make sure that you don't have any side effects. пїЅ пїЅ

Before you leave, the staff person will give you a phone number to call in case you have any problems or questions. пїЅ пїЅ

What side effects can I have from giving blood? " пїЅ The most common side effects include: пїЅ пїЅ

Getting a bruise or feeling sore where the needle went in the skin
Feeling tired afterward

Some people can feel faint or pass out. This is more likely to happen if it is your first time giving blood or if you are young or your weight is low. To help prevent feeling faint or passing out, drink a big bottle of water before you give blood. пїЅ пїЅ

Will my donated blood be tested for problems? " пїЅ Yes. All donated blood is tested for certain infections that people can catch from infected blood. Some of these infections include HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, West Nile virus, and syphilis. пїЅ пїЅ

If your blood has any of these infections, the blood bank will let you know. They will also safely get rid of your blood so that it cannot infect anyone else. пїЅ пїЅ

What if I get sick after I give blood? " пїЅ If you get sick within a few days of giving blood, call the number the staff person gave you. Depending on your symptoms, the blood bank might throw out your blood so that it doesn't infect anyone else. пїЅ пїЅ

All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. пїЅ пїЅ

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014. пїЅ пїЅ

Topic 15874 Version 4.0 пїЅ пїЅ

Release: 22.8 - C22.208 пїЅ пїЅ

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Blood Donation (Giving Blood)

The Basics

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

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