Types Of Blood Donation
The main types of blood donation include:
- Blood a standard donation, consisting of plasma, red and white blood cells, platelets, antibodies and other components.
- Plasma plasma is separated from the other components by a special machine, and the red blood cells are returned to the donor in cycles throughout the donation.
- Platelets done in a similar way to plasma donation, but the red cells and plasma are returned to the donor.
Less common donations include:
- Autologous prior to a scheduled operation or transfusion, a person donates blood for their own use.
- Directed or designated donation a donor can give blood that will be used for a specific person.
Autologous and directed donations are now rare, occurring only in special medical cases. These blood donations have the same risks as regular blood donations.
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How Long Does It Take To Regenerate Blood
Jan 14, 2022 | Primary Care
Youre thinking about donating blood for the first time. But since theyll be removing blood from your body, it has you thinking: How long does it take to regenerate blood?
Its a fairly common question. When theyre taking something away from your body, you naturally wonder how long it will take to replenish.
The short answer? Not as long as you might think.
How Long Does It Take To Donate Blood Less Time Than These Activities
There are a variety of reasons people dont donate blood. A common one is that they dont have time to do so. On average, one trip to donate blood takes about an hour and 15 minutes depending on how busy the donation center is.
While its not necessarily a super quick trip, many people can fit this into their schedule, especially when they consider the impact their donation makes. A single blood donation can help up to three people receive necessary and sometimes life-saving treatment through blood transfusions.
You can find time to make a blood donation by swapping out an activity in your schedule or changing the activity to make it shorter in order to accomplish both.
Here are 10 activities that take longer than donating blood:
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Why Does It Take The Time It Does For Blood Donation
The reason for the delay in blood donation, mostly, is the paperwork that the donor is required to fill before donation. No matter the type of blood product, blood donation might sometimes take more than an hour. For first-time donors, you are expected to eat iron-rich food and drink a lot of liquids. If your liquid content is less, they make you drink enough liquid for your body to be able to handle the loss of blood.
Double blood cell donation takes longer than the other procedures. It is generally given to trauma patients, newborns, emergency transfusions during birth, and anybody that has suffered from blood loss. This is done with extra care and precautions than any normal blood donation.
There are also three steps a donor has to take before donation:
Registering: Registering as a donor with your name, address, and proof of identity
Questions: The doctor or an attendant will ask you questions regarding your previous medical history, travel history, and your health in general. There are certain things that might rule you out from the donation.
Checks: The attendant will check the donors pulse, body temperature, and blood pressure before the blood is taken to make sure of no ill complications.
These processes usually prolong the time of donation.
What Happens To My Blood After Donation
Less than 5% of blood is used as whole blood . By separating the other 95% into its components red blood cells, platelets and plasma, the unit you donated can save up to 3 lives. Which is wonderful considering the whole process takes only about 30 minutes. Your platelets can be used for a cancer patient, plasma to replace clotting factors in a trauma patient and your red blood cells for patients who needed surgery or suffered complications during childbirth.
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Can I Donate If I’ve Traveled To Foriegn Countries
The short answer is yes. There are some exceptions that may defer you from donating, including:
- If you spent a total of five years in France and Ireland for 5 years from 1980-2001 .
- If you spent 3 months or more in the UK from 1980-1996.
- If you have traveled to an area affected by malaria in the past year, we ask that you wait three months from the time you returned home before donating blood.
- If you have ever had malaria, you must be symptom-free for three years.
Why Does It Take That Long To Give Blood
Blood donation can take place at a blood donation facility, a mobile blood drive, or a blood bank, among other places. Consuming plenty of water on the day of the donation will keep you nourished and increase your likelihood of a positive donation.
In fact, many donation centres may advise you to drink at least 16 ounces more water on the day of your donation. Even though the process of giving blood is very rapid, it does take time because it necessitates documentation and other regulations to ensure everyones safety.
The procedure varies significantly depending on the location of the blood donation, but it usually includes a few phases. It entails registering as a donor, among other things.
Donor registration information, such as name and address, will be filled out by the individual. Theyll also need to show a donor card, drivers licence, or other kinds of identity that may be validated. The process also includes a questioning session.
The persons health, medical, and travel background may be questioned by the health practitioner or attendant. A variety of tests are performed on the individual. Before starting, the attendant may check simple vitals such as the persons fever, blood pressure, and heartbeat.
The majority of healthy persons will have no adverse reactions to donating blood products, and serious consequences from blood donation are uncommon. However, some persons may experience minor adverse effects after donating, including dizziness or nausea.
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What Kind Of Blood Can I Donate
That’s completely up to you. Most people donate whole blood, which is also known as red blood. Then there are people who donate platelets. Platelets are the part of the blood that aids in clotting. In a process called platelet apheresis, whole blood is drawn and then separated into its component parts . Patients who need certain blood components can benefit from your donation. Patients who have cancer, leukemia, transplants and blood disorders need platelets. And since UCLA Health is a Level I trauma center, many patients brought here also require platelets to stop their bleeding.
How Long Does It Take
From start to finish, whole blood donors should set aside one hour for their visit. This includes paperwork, talking to a historian, having the blood drawn, and relaxing in our canteen while eating a cookie and drinking some juice. Platelet donations take a little longer anywhere from two to three hours.
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Can I Donate Blood If I Am Taking A Medication To Prevent Hiv
All donors who have taken a medication to prevent HIV infection known as pre-exposure prophylaxis or post-exposure prophylaxis are temporarily deferred from blood donation due to the suppressive effect that these medications have on HIV testing. The duration of the deferral period varies. This waiting period is necessary because these medications can make HIV undetectable when donors are tested for HIV. AABB has developed PrEP/PEP FAQ resources for blood collectors and the public to provide additional information about these medication deferrals.
What To Expect At Your Donation
Registration You will sign in, show an ID, and be asked to read some required information.
Health History and Mini-Physical Answer some questions online or in a private interview, and receive a general health check. The results of your mini-physical will be available in your online blood donor account or on the Blood Donor App.
The Donation You’ll be seated comfortably while a pint of blood is drawn. The actual donation only takes 8-10 minutes.
Refreshment and Recovery After donating, you can enjoy a snack and a drink for 10-15 minutes before resuming your day. The entire donation process takes about an hour.
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What Are The Risks Of Donating Blood
There are no health risks in giving blood. You CANNOT get HIV from donating blood. The needle and bag used to collect blood are sterile and prepackaged. A new package is used every time.
You may have a small bruise on your arm. In rare cases, a person’s arm may bleed after the bandage is taken off. If this happens, raise your arm and put pressure on the needle site for several minutes.
Some people feel faint after they donate blood. This is more common for younger people and for people who are donating for the first time. If you have fainted after donating blood and you choose to donate again, be sure to tell the person who is going to draw your blood. Drinking extra water before you donate may reduce this risk.
An Hour Of Your Time Could Save Three Lives
Every two seconds in the United States someone needs blood to survive. One in three people need a lifesaving transfusion during their lifetime. This need touches everyonefamily, friends, neighbors, colleagues and the community.
Each blood donation has the potential to save 3 lives. It is a precious resource, but has a limited shelf lifeonly 5-7 days for platelets and 42 days for red blood cells. Thats why it takes 1,000 donors a day to maintain the blood supply for the 90 hospitals we support in the Northwest.
You can donate at a center, or at one of our many mobile drives. Your donation helps people having surgeries or organ transplants, or receiving treatment for trauma. People often receive transfusions during treatment for cancer and bleeding disorders.
What should you expect the first time you donate?
Donating blood is a safe and simple process. Youll be asked to fill out a questionnaire about your health and travel history. Then youll meet a staff member for a short screening interview and quick physical examination. If you meet eligibility requirements, well discuss the blood donation that best matches your blood type and current local needs.
We want you to feel great after donating. Eat a healthy meal within four hours before you donate, and be sure to stay well hydrated with non-caffeinated fluids before and after donation. After donation, it is good to add iron-rich foods like meat, spinach and beans to your diet, or to take an dietary iron supplement.
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Why Do You Get A Headache After Giving Blood
Developing a headache can occur after donating blood. It is recommended that you hydrate well for 24 to 48 hours after donating blood and avoid strenuous activity for at least five hours. If you develop signs of a possible infection within four days of donating, contact the donor center.
Are headaches after giving blood normal?
If you have symptoms like a cold or flu within four days after you donated your blood you must call the center immediately. You may need medical care. It is normal to feel a little bit tired after donating blood because theres less circulation of blood to the brain.
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Based on the blood component, the average donor should anticipate dedicating an hour to several hours from registering to recuperation before going about their day. To give blood products, most blood donation centers will ask that you meet certain criteria.
They may also inquire about a persons medical history in order to evaluate whether or not they are eligible to donate blood. To donate blood, you must be at least 16 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in excellent health, as per the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Trusted Source.
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How Will I Feel After I Donate
Most people feel fine after donating blood . Your body constantly makes new blood and the fluid you give will be replaced within hours. Eating a full meal before you donate will help you feel strong afterword. Drinking water and juice before and after donating also helps your body replenish lost fluids.
Avoid strenuous activity for 12 hours after donating. If you are donating at a blood drive at your place of employment and have a hazardous or strenuous job, we recommend donating at the end of your shift.
How Long Does It Take To Donate Blood Plasma
One of the questions we are frequently asked is how long it takes to donate blood plasma. Unlike blood donation, which takes approximately eight to 10 minutes, plasma donation requires more of a time commitment. With that said, there are some perks of donating plasma that make the time commitment well worth it!
If you are a prospective plasma donor, read on to find out how long plasma donation takes and what to expect.
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What Is Donating Plasma Like
Plasma donation is a four-step process. This process entails:
During your first plasma donation, you can expect to be at our centre for a little over two hours. Subsequent appointments will take approximately 90 minutes to complete.
The part of the plasma donation process that takes the most time is the donating portion. Plasma donors undergo a process known as plasmapheresis, which involves being intravenously connected to a machine that separates plasma from other blood components and returns those other blood components to the body. Plasmapheresis usually takes around 50 minutes, but it is an extremely effective process that collects significantly more plasma than just removing plasma from a blood donation.
The screening portion of the plasma donation process also requires quite a bit of time, as donors must undergo a physical examination and their medical history has to be reviewed. This is done to ensure donors can safely give plasma.
Blood Donation Requirements For Medical Research
Donor requirements for medical research may be slightly different from those for Lifeblood donors. For example, people who usually dont qualify as Lifeblood donors can qualify as donors for medical research.
To qualify to become a blood donor for medical research:
- Be aged 18 to 60.
- Not taking anti-clotting or anti-inflammatory medications .
- Tel. to make an appointment. Appointments are available Monday to Friday between 8:30 and 10am.
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What Does The Term Donor Deferral Mean
Donor deferral means that an individual is not eligible to donate based on the current requirements. This waiting period is necessary to protect the health and safety of both the donor and the patient who receives the donated blood.
In the United States, blood collectors follow donor eligibility criteria based on requirements of the Food and Drug Administration, AABB Standards, and their own local policies. The medical director of the blood donor center has ultimate authority to establish a more stringent deferral policy based on their clinical judgement as a physician.
The period of time a person will not be eligible to donate depends on the specific reason for deferral. After the deferral period ends, a donor can return to the blood donor center to be reevaluated and resume donation if all donor eligibility criteria are met.
AABBs donor deferral resource explains some of the most common reasons for deferral. Contact your local blood collector for specific questions about your eligibility.
Why Are There Often Blood Shortages
Most blood centers strive to maintain an optimum inventory level of a three-day supply. Due to unpredictable demands, the inventory often fluctuates hourly. When the blood supply drops below a three-day level, blood centers begin alerting local donors to increase the inventory to a safe operating level.
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If I Was Deferred Once Before Am I Still Ineligible To Donate
Your blood donor center will inform you if you are permanently deferred or temporarily deferred. The deferral time depends upon the reason for deferral. Prior to each donation, you will be given a mini-physical and medical interview. At that time, it will be determined if you are eligible to donate blood on that day.
How Long Do Side Effects Of Blood Donation Last
People may experience some minor bruising due to blood under the surface of the skin. This is a normal reaction and should go away by itself within 1 week .
What are the long term side effects of donating blood?
The most recognised and studied long term complication is iron deficiency, more frequently associated with whole blood donation. The collection of 450 or 500 mL of whole blood, plus an additional 30 to 50 mL for blood tests, results in 480 to 550 mL of blood loss per whole-blood donation.
Does giving blood weaken your immune system?
There is no evidence blood donation weakens the immune system. Blood donation is needed to keep the supply available to patients who need it. To best prepare for your donation get sleep, eat a good meal, and drink fluids.
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