Giving blood how long to replace

While, carrying the trait does not mean that an individual has sickle cell disease, health experts recommend that individuals with sickle cell trait be aware of their status and consult their medical provider on what it means for them.

In general, many individuals who carry the sickle cell trait have no medical problems related to sickle cell trait. However, these screening are not perfect. As with all tests and screening, false results, or a screening result that incorrectly states the presence of abnormal hemoglobin, can occur. This is why those who receive a positive result are encouraged to consult their medical provider for confirmatory testing and discuss what their results mean for them.

Like other blood donation screenings, sickle cell trait screening is part of the blood donation testing process which occurs at no charge to the donor. In addition, this screening helps the Red Cross identify compatible blood types to help sickle cell patients more quickly.

Per standard donation procedure, only successful donations are sent to our laboratory for screening. This means that the individual is likely not a sickle cell trait carrier. It is important to note, that the Red Cross is not screening for other abnormal hemoglobin cells that can also cause sickling-- such as Hemoglobin C. The Red Cross blood donation process at our blood drives and donation centers will not change. Blood, platelet and plasma donations will be screened using samples obtained at the time of donation and sent to a testing laboratory where the samples will also undergo routine screening and infectious disease testing.

These blood products will not be used to help sickle cell patients but can help other patients in need of lifesaving blood. Red Cross immunohematology-reference laboratories IRL have historically tested select donations for sickle cell trait at the request of a hospital partner actively looking to fulfill a specific blood product need.

This spring we are expanding our screening to include all blood, platelet and plasma donations from self-identified African American donors to allow us to identify compatible blood donations even faster to help patients in need of a blood transfusion.

However, 51 percent of African Americans have type O positive or negative blood, in comparison to approximately 45 percent of white individuals. Type O blood is most often in critical supply as it is most often needed by hospitals. Black donors play a vital role in helping meet the needs of all patients including—individuals who experience complicated childbirths, people fighting cancer, and accident victims being raced to emergency rooms.

Donors will need to have a successful donation to receive sickle cell trait screening results. Per standard donation procedure, only successful donations are sent to our laboratory for testing. How can I get my test results? This will provide the most expedient access to test results. If a donor has questions or issues with the Blood Donor App or portal functionality, please contact If a donor does not have internet service and therefore cannot use the two recommended channels, they may call the Red Cross Donor and Client Support Center 14 days after donation at to obtain their results.

This test is used to detect abnormal sickling hemoglobin cells or Hemoglobin S. If an individual receives a positive result, they should consult their medical provider to discuss their test results and pursue additional confirmatory testing. Both screenings are authorized for use by the FDA and are highly accurate. The Red Cross will not release your screening result or any other test result without your written permission unless required by law. The Red Cross is only required to report positive sickle cell trait results in writing to donor.

We do encourage those individuals who receive a positive sickle cell trait result to consult their medical provider to discuss their test results and pursue additional confirmatory testing. This is why the Red Cross is currently testing only selfidentified African Americans for sickle cell trait as this time. The Red Cross plans to screen blood, platelet and plasma donations for sickle cell trait from these individuals through the end of However, you must wait 2 full days after taking aspirin or any medication containing aspirin before donating platelets by apheresis.

For example, if you take aspirin products on Monday, the soonest you may donate platelets is Thursday. The reason for antibiotic use must be evaluated to determine if the donor has a bacterial infection that could be transmissible by blood.

May have taken last pill on the date of donation. Acceptable if you are taking antibiotics to prevent an infection for the following reasons: acne, chronic prostatitis, peptic ulcer disease, periodontal disease, pre-dental work, rosacea, ulcerative colitis, after a splenectomy, or valvular heart disease.

If you have a temperature above Includes the Tdap vaccine. The second shot is administered months after the first shot.

This distinguishes it from Zostavax, the live shingles vaccine, which is given as a single dose shot and requires a 4-week deferral. Complications may include skin reactions beyond the vaccination site or general illness related to the vaccination. You should discuss your particular situation with the health historian at the time of donation. Complications may include skin reactions or general illness related to the exposure. Your eligibility will be based on the reason that the medication was prescribed.

As long as the condition is under control and you are healthy, blood donation is usually permitted. There are a handful of drugs that are of special significance in blood donation. However, you must wait 2 days after taking Feldene piroxicam before donating platelets by apheresis. If your doctor discontinues your treatment with blood thinners, wait 7 days before returning to donate.

If your doctor discontinues your treatment with these blood thinners, wait 2 days before returning to donate. However, you must wait 14 days after taking this medication before donating platelets by apheresis. We need to admire them for communicating. After this, you can discuss with the community about kindness. I have been told years ago that anyone under lbs could not give blood. Is this still true? Was on iron as a child for anemia and would imagine I still have some of that in me considering I hang onto the heavy metals rather strongly.

I was listening to a medical podcast that said that your ferritin or iron levels should be between 20 and Cardiologist say that when your iron levels exceed , then they want you to start blood donations to get it down to below 50 again to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. I thought I would have my ferritin levels tested, so I went to requestatest. The test said that my ferritin levels were at Eight blood donations later I have it down to It looks like I should continue donating blood every 60 days for the rest of my life.

Taking vitamin C increases the iron absorption rate. It is best to test. I donate every 2 months and have done so for years. I exercise daily and have a healthy diet. Knowing that donating is also good for my body just reinforces my commitment to continue donating. To minimize any adverse reactions, it is important to prepare for your blood donation by eating an iron-rich meal and drinking plenty of fluids.

You will also want to replace fluids immediately after donating, and to keep the body well-nourished. Long-term benefits to your body when you donate blood Studies reveal many possible benefits of regular blood donation. This may be partly because donating blood helps blood flow, giving it a lower viscosity resistance and thus making it less damaging to blood vessels. There are other ways that donating blood impacts your heart as well.

Blood donation also helps regulate iron levels in the body. Too much iron can be damaging to blood vessels, and a regular decrease of iron-rich blood and subsequent replenishment due to blood donation can lead to a more beneficial lower iron level.

Men tend to store more iron in their bodies than women, which is why iron deficiency is rare in men. A person can help restore them by drinking water, broth, or herbal tea. The American Red Cross recommend drinking an extra 4 glasses, or 32 ounces, of liquid in the first 24 hours after donating blood. However, it can limit what a person can do immediately afterward. The loss of red blood cells means that there is less oxygen circulating in the body. As a result, a person should avoid very strenuous activities right after a donation.

This may include:. For the rest of the day after donating blood, it is generally a good idea to avoid any activities that get the heart rate up. Going forward, a person can gradually reintroduce exercise and heavy lifting. Returning to these activities slowly can help prevent any adverse effects of the blood loss. Also, a person should avoid drinking alcohol for the first 24 hours after a donation. Some people experience dizziness or lightheadedness after donating blood.

This is because the lower volume of blood in the body leads to a temporary reduction in blood pressure. Certain preventive measures may help, such as drinking extra water before donating. Anyone experiencing dizziness or lightheadedness should stop what they are doing and sit or lie down. Take slow, deep breaths until the issue passes.

Raising the feet may also help. Resume activities slowly, and avoid any that could be dangerous due to a person feeling dizzy or off-balance.

After a blood donation is complete, an attendant will place a bandage over the area where the needle was inserted. They may also apply gentle pressure to help the blood clot and the wound heal. To help prevent bleeding, keep the bandage on, and try to avoid using the arm wherever possible. If there is bleeding from the site, apply pressure, and raise the arm over the head for about 5 minutes until the bleeding stops.

After the wound closes, remove the bandage and wash the area gently with soap and water. Do this regularly until the wound has fully healed.