Common Blood Donation Questions
Who can give blood?
Most healthy persons, age 17 or older,
can give blood every eight weeks: platelets may be donated
up to 24 times a year. The entire donation process takes
about an hour. By donating blood on a regular basis during
the year, you can help ensure that all patients' blood
needs will be met.
Is it safe to donate blood?
After a blood donation, it takes just a
few hours for the body to replace the volume of plasma
lost. Platelets are restored in a few days, and the body
compensates by increasing red cell production until normal
levels return in a few weeks.
What are blood components, and how are they used?
Each blood component performs a special
function in your body. These elements are red blood cells,
platelets, plasma and white blood cells.
How is blood tested?
Today, each and every blood donation
undergoes nine tests, including screening for evidence of
infection for HIV (AIDS), hepatitis, human T-cell lymphotrophic virus (HTLV) and syphilis. Any blood unit
that tests positive for infection is destroyed.
As part of the testing, all blood donations are
identified as belonging to one of four blood groups: A, B,
O, AB, and as being either Rh positive or Rh negative.
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