What Should I Expect After Donating Blood
- You will want to eat a healthy meal and drink more fluids than usual .
- Remove the bandage after a minimum of 4 hours.
- Avoid heavy lifting and engaging in strenuous activities for 24 hours after blood donation.
- If you feel lightheaded, lay down with your knees bent. You can also sit down and place your head between your legs. Drinking more fluids also helps to relieve discomfort.
Can I Donate Blood
Donating blood is easy and our blood supply relies exclusively on the generosity of volunteer blood donors. There is no substitute for human blood. Most people qualify as a volunteer donor, even if they are taking medications. Review the eligibility criteria below and see if you can be a lifesaver too.
For information about blood donation and the Covid-19 vaccine, visit the Covid-19 and Blood Donation FAQ.
Age Matters
You may donate if you are at least 17 years old , weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in good health.
- Donors age 16-18 are also subject to additional height/weight restrictions.
- Donors age 76 and older can continue to donate blood if they meet all eligibility criteria and present a physician’s letter allowing them to donate, once at the first donation after reaching their 76th birthday. In the absence of a letter from their physician, they must be cleared by an NYBC medical director at each donation.
16 Year Old Parental/Guardian’s Permission Form
New York
7 days after taking See full list of medications that may affect your eligibility as a blood donor.
* These anti-platelet agents affect platelet function so people taking these drugs should not donate platelets for the indicated time however, you make a whole blood donation. Anyone taking Coumadin must wait 7 days after their last dose in order to be eligible for any type of donation.
Permanent Reasons
Please do not give blood if you:
Please Note:
What Happens After Blood Donation
Your blood donation will be taken to a laboratory and will be tested for several things the first is blood type. The different blood types are: A, B, AB, and O. All blood types are eligible for blood donation.
Your blood will also be tested for any potential infections such as:
If your blood is positive to any of the above diseases, you will be notified by the donation center, and your blood will not be able to be used for donation.
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What Other Conditions Does Blood Screening Identify
donate organs to people who do not have these antibodies.
Before this, organ transplants from people with HCV were allowed, but under the label of increased risk. In 2017, the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network reported that doctors were less likely to use organs from increased risk donors.
The OPTN added that this is likely based on a misconception of what the term means, as studies have shown that people who receive organs from increased risk donors have equal or better post-graft survival rates than those with non-increased risk transplants.
The new stress the continuing importance of testing, informed consent from the recipient, and follow-up tests to determine the HCV status of the recipient after transplant.
Patients In The Late Acute Or Chronic Phase
These patients are in the transition from the high replicative, low inflammatory phase to the immune clearance phase with decreasing viremia and HBs-antigenemia. Immune clearance is connected with inflammation and consecutive fibrosis. Initially most patients with chronic hepatitis B are still HBeAg positive. Since HBeAg is non-essential, patients eliminate the HBeAg-expressing HBV wildtype, but HBeAg negative variants are selected which are often faster replicating. Absence of HBeAg indicates the breakdown of the immune tolerance to HBV and an enhanced immune clearance combined with intensified pathogenicity. Clinical observations suggest that levels of viremia usually decrease faster than the levels of HBs-antigenemia . Thus, HBsAg assays are sufficiently sensitive enough for detection of virtually all donors in these phases whereas HBV DNA screening would not identify many additional HBV carriers if any.
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What To Expect When Donating Blood
When you get to the donation location, you will be asked to:
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Give your name and address, and show a government issued ID.
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Fill out a questionnaire that asks you about your general health and travel history.
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Have your blood pressure, pulse, and temperature measured. Remember, you will not be able to donate blood if you have a fever, or an abnormal pulse or blood pressure reading.
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Have your hemoglobin measured, or the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout your body. Your finger will be pricked with a sterile needle and your hemoglobin will be measured. If your hemoglobin is too low, you will be unable to donate blood.
If you meet the criteria, youre ready to donate blood! The process consists of the following steps:
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A site on your arm is cleaned with an alcohol pad.
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A sterile needle is placed into your arm vein. This will feel like a quick pinch.
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You will sit and relax while a pint of your blood collects in a bag, which will last for about 8-10 minutes.
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When your donation is complete, the needle is removed from your arm and is bandaged.
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You will rest for about 10-15 minutes, while you enjoy a refreshment. This allows your body to adjust to the very slight decrease in your blood volume.
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You can expect your donation to take about one hour.
What Causes Hepatitis A
The hepatitis A virus causes this type of hepatitis and spreads through contact with an infected persons stool. Contact can occur by
- eating food made by an infected person who did not wash his or her hands after using the bathroom
- drinking untreated water or eating food washed in untreated water
- placing a finger or an object in your mouth that came into contact with an infected persons stool
- having close personal contact with an infected person, such as through sex or caring for someone who is ill
You cannot get hepatitis A from
- being coughed on or sneezed on by an infected person
- sitting next to an infected person
- hugging an infected person
A baby cannot get hepatitis A from breast milk.4
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How Do I Prepare To Donate Blood
First, go online and find a drive. You will enter your location, and a list of donation locations will appear. You will be able to choose a time slot, and make an appointment to donate blood online.
Some tips for getting ready to give blood include:
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Getting a good nights sleep
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Eating healthy, well-balanced meals as much as possible
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Drinking more water the morning of your blood donation
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Taking your medications as usual , including your blood pressure medications
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Making sure you have a government issued ID
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Knowing your travel history if you have traveled outside the U.S. in the past 3 years, you can fill out a travel form ahead of time and bring it with you to your appointment.
Hesitations Toward Blood Donation
Although 37% of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood, less than 5% do so annually, according to a 2012 study published in the journal Transfusion. Among the commonly cited reasons why people avoid donating is the presumption that they are “medically disqualified” to donate.
Many of these attitudes stem back to the 1970s and 1980s when reports of infection among hemophiliacs given tainted blood fueled fears among donors and recipients alike.
Although doubts about the safety of the U.S. blood supply have largely subsided due to advances in blood screening, there are some who avoid donating because it may reveal that they havean infection like HIV or hepatitis.
If you think you might have hepatitiseither due to the presence of symptoms or because of a known exposurebut are fearful of donating because it may confirm your concern, know that the sooner hepatitis is identified, the sooner you can access treatment that can keep you well and healthy for many years.
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Life Circumstances That Mean You Cant Donate Blood
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History of injection drug use, or using needles to take any drugs that were not prescribed by your healthcare provider
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Incarceration for more than 72 consecutive hours during the previous 12 months
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Having had sex with another male in the last 3 months, if youre a male
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Taken or given money or other payment for sex in the last three 3 months
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Sexual contact with anyone who uses drug intravenously
What Is The Process For Donating Blood
After you arrive at a Southern California Blood Bank or San Diego Blood Bank donation center or blood drive, there are typically four steps. The donation process usually takes 45 minutes to an hour.
1. Answer a questionnaire about travel history, lifestyle, medications and general health.
2. Receive a health screen to ensure your wellbeing and determine any barriers to donation.
3. Donate blood. The process itself takes about 10 minutes for whole blood, during which you can lay back and relax. Many donors think of this as me time that saves lives.
4. Sit in the canteen for 15 minutes while you enjoy a well-deserved beverage and snack.
Next, your donation is taken to the lab and gets processed in a centrifuge to separate it into three different lifesaving components. Once testing is completed to ensure safety of the blood components, 24/7 dispatchers deliver it to the hospital, where it is used to help someone in need.
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Am I Eligible To Donate Blood
UPDATES:
- COVID-19 Vaccine & Blood Donation: There is no wait to donate if you receive the Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson/Janssen, Novavax or AstraZeneca COVID vaccine. For more vaccine guidance, visit bloodworksnw.org/coronavirus.
- As of July 15, 2020, Bloodworks implemented new FDA blood donor eligibility guidance supported by studies and epidemiologic data. The changes affect several blood donation criteria, such as travel, exposure risks and medications resulting in revised deferral periods for men who have sex with men Variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease , tattoos/piercings, travel to malarial endemic areas, and others. If you were deferred in the past, please contact us at 800-398-7888 to determine your eligibility according to the new criteria. Read about the updates here. We applaud the FDAs important step toward increasing opportunity to save lives and look forward to welcoming more people to join our team of lifesavers.
Chronic Low Symptomatic Hbv Infections
HBV is able to establish a chronic, so-called high replicative, low inflammatory state during which infected liver cells produce huge amounts of HBV antigens and virus particles but remain largely functional without being attacked by the immune system. Seemingly healthy individuals with persistently high HBV replication and low inflammatory activity can be easily recognized by current HBsAg assays .
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How Can I Help If I Cant Donate Blood
There are many ways to be a hero with San Diego Blood Bank and Southern California Blood Bank
- Support Research: Blood donated for research has the potential to change the future of health for generations to come. Contact us at .and ask how you can participate in a research project.
- Make a Financial Gift: San Diego Blood Bank/Southern California Blood Bank relies on financial gifts to pay for critical supplies and equipment. Visit sandiegobloodbank.org/give to learn how you can make an impact.
- Volunteer: Join our volunteer team and serve as a donor center host or blood drive greeter. Have a special talent you want to share? Let us know and we will find a place for you. Visit sandiegobloodbank.org/volunteers
You Need To Meet With A Living Donor Team
If your health, blood type, and other factors show you could be a good donor candidate, you’ll be asked to meet with a living donor team. This is a group of experts who will have your best interests at heart and that will explain how the transplant surgery works. They’ll also want to make sure you’re ready for how this process could affect you emotionally or financially.
Your team could include a:
- Nurse coordinator
- Nutrition expert
This is also a good time for you to ask questions or bring up concerns you may have. Your team can also put you in touch with someone who donated their liver in the past. That way, you can get a firsthand account of what it’s like and get insights into the decision-making process that others went through.
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Dont You Test For Hepatitis B Already
Yes. All blood donations are routinely tested for tested for Hepatitis B as well as Hepatitis C, Hepatitis E, HIV, HTLV and Syphilis. This additional test is designed to find out whether a donor has had Hepatitis B in the past, and is being put in place to further enhance the safety of the blood supply.
- Find out more about our testing process
Who Benefits From Blood Donation
The impact of blood donation is full circle. Donating empowers healthy people to share the gift of health, which in turn keeps neighbors and community members alive and thriving. Your donation can help people who have experienced: cancer, car accident or trauma, heart surgery, severe anemia, pregnancy complications, and much more.
Research shows a connection between altruism, generosity and health. Though it might not be the kind of health measured by your fitness tracker, an emotional boost improves overall well-being and can add years to your life. In addition, each time you donate, you get a mini health screening. Track your blood pressure, pulse, hematocrit, temperature and cholesterol in your online personalized health portal.
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Role Of Hbv Vaccination
Locarnini and Raimondo express in their commentary the expectation that universal hepatitis B immunization will more often protect recipients against HBV in blood donations. Even passively administered anti-HBs by concomitant donations from immunized donors protects against donations from OBI donors . The downside of vaccination is that it does not completely protect and that vaccinated donors with low or absent anti-HBs may develop after exposure an acute quasi-occult HBV infection which can only be detected by NAT. This incomplete protection occurs rarely but in increased frequency when the infecting HBV strain has a genotype different from the vaccine strain . This side effect should definitely not deter blood donation services to accept vaccinated donors with low anti-HBs. A better consequence would be that responsible institutions like pharmaceutical industry and WHO would consider the possible improvements of current HBV vaccines like use of the regional predominating HBV genotypes or preS1 containing vaccines . Unnoticed OBI of vaccinated individuals detectable by anti-HBc occurs very often in highly endemic countries. In the worst case only highly sensitive NAT can detect a recent occult HBV infection in anti-HBs positive vaccinated individuals .
Where Can I Donate Blood
Visit one of our Southern California locations or a mobile blood drive in the community at scbloodbank.org/donate.
Orange County Locations
- Irvine and Newport Beach: Irvine Business District Donor Center |
San Diego County Locations
- Vista, Oceanside, Carlsbad: Coastal Donor Center |
- Escondido and San Marcos: North County Donor Center |
- Poway, Mira Mesa, Sorrento Valley: Sabre Springs Donor Center |
- La Jolla, Carmel Valley, Del Mar: Carmel Valley Donor Center |
- Central San Diego: Gateway Donor Center – San Diego Blood Bank HQ |
- La Mesa, El Cajon, Santee, Lakeside: East County Donor Center |
- Point Loma, Ocean Beach, Old Town: Liberty Station Donor Center |
- Chula Vista, National City, Imperial Beach, San Ysidro: Chula Vista Donor Center |
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Medical Care And Treatment
It is very important to have a full medical check-up. This should be arranged with a specialist in liver disease. The specialist will arrange a full medical assessment of your liver which will give much more information about your health. You will also be advised if any treatment is necessary.
There is no cure for hepatitis B virus infection, but medications are available which can reduce the harmful effects of the virus. Whether or not you need treatment will depend on how the virus is affecting your liver. There is no special diet that should be followed, but it is important to avoid alcohol as this also causes hepatitis and liver damage.
If I Used To Live In Mexico Can I Donate Blood
Yes. However, if you lived in Mexico for 5 or more years, you must live in the United States with no travel to Mexico for 3 years. This is because you would be considered a resident of a Malaria-endemic country according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you travel to Mexico during the 3-year waiting period, you must wait 3 years from the date of returning from Mexico. Once you have been in the United States for 3 years without travel to Mexico, you can travel to Mexico on occasion and would only be deferred from donating if you visited a region with malaria.
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Annex 6hepatitis B Virus Infection: Information For Blood Donors
Hepatitis B is a very common virus. Worldwide, an estimated two billion people have been infected with hepatitis B virus , and more than 350 million are chronic carriers of the virus, mostly in Asia, Africa and China. HBV infects the liver and can cause hepatitis. Hepatitis simply means inflammation of the liver.
Are You Eligible To Donate Life
Review the information below to determine your eligibility for various types of donation.
Here are the essential qualifications, depending on your donation type. You can choose to donate whole blood or specific components through a process called apheresis or automation. This process allows one or more specific components of blood to be safely removed through a sterile process and the remaining components are safely returned to you through a sterile process. To learn more about the donation types, visit Learn More About Blood Donation.
Safety note: You cannot contract blood borne pathogens such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS by donating blood.
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