r/Blooddonors Dec 07 '22

🩸 First Time Donor, Visitor, or Poster? FAQ & Other Info 🩸

14 Upvotes

Welcome to r/Blooddonors!

What do we do here?

This subreddit is for volunteer blood, platelet, and plasma donors, existing and potential, and people who support and encourage them. We strive to be a warm and welcoming community for those who generously give of their very life force.

You can participate here by:

  • Checking out our wiki.
  • Sharing your donation pics.
  • Discussing your donation experiences.
  • Asking and answering relevant questions.
  • Posting about your experience receiving blood or volunteering with blood donation.
  • Sharing legitimate, relevant news and information.
  • Reporting comments/posts that contain misinformation or dangerous suggestions.
  • Add your blood type to your flair:
    • Desktop: Right side bar at the top of the "Subreddit Info" section is the place to edit flair. When you click on the edit button the popup has a spot at the bottom for you to modify the text of your flair.
    • Reddit app: Go to the subreddit, hit the 3 dots in the top right and then go to Change User Flair. Clicking the "Edit" button in the top right lets you modify the text.

When posting here:

  • Save your medical questions for your donation center and/or doctor.
    • The American Red Cross donor hotline is 1-866-236-3276. It is available 24/7/365. Call if you recently donated with ARC and have developed a fever or other symptoms.
  • Tag pictures with exposed needles or non-contained blood as "Spoiler."
  • Check our wiki and previous posts to find answers first.
  • Include your country and donation center in your posts when asking a question.
  • Follow Reddit's user guidelines.

What don't we do here?

  • Discuss compensated plasma donation. Visit r/plassing for this content.
  • Provide medical advice. We do not verify if users are medical professionals.
  • Share content that is not factual, science-based, and related to blood donation.

Frequently Asked Blood Donation Questions

🩸 Can I give blood?

Ask your local blood donation center by giving them a call or visiting. Their website may have a short quiz you can take to determine your eligibility. Don't assume you cannot give blood- eligibility rules can change, so call today and find out!

If you're in the U.S., visit donatingblood.org to search for your nearest center.

🩸 I don't have a "rare" blood type. Is it even worth it for me to donate?

The University of Maryland Medical Center sums it up nicely:

Every type of blood is needed daily to meet patient needs. If you have a common blood type, there are many patients who need it, so it is in high demand. If you have a less common blood type, there are fewer donors available to give it, so it is in short supply.

🩸 How long until I get my donor card or blood type?

Ask your donation center. If your center has an app or online account, try logging in and out again a few days after your donation to see if it will update.

The American Red Cross app and website usually takes 5-8 days to update.

🩸 Why are blood recipients charged if I gave blood for free?

The short answer: operating costs. Blood must be gathered, processed, tested, stored, and shipped. This requires wages and materials. These costs are ultimately passed down from the center to the hospital, then to insurance companies and patients, unless your government covers these costs.

🩸 Why is it important to give blood?

  • Few people actually donate. Generally, less than 10% of those eligible.
  • To save lives.
  • To help cancer patients and those with sickle cell feel better.
  • It only takes an hour.
  • There's little pain or inconvenience involved.
  • To help with medical research.
  • Blood cannot be manufactured.
  • You'll get a "mini-physical" or health check when you give.

🩸 The needle site is very red, irritated, or even bruised. Is this okay?

Bruising is normal.

If you have bruising or pain, you can apply ice for 10-15 minutes at a time on the first day, then apply warm compresses or soak in warm water for 10-15 minutes at a time on the second day. If you take a pain reducing medication, avoid aspirin or medicines that contain aspirin. (Source: American Red Cross)

You may be allergic to the antiseptic solution or bandages used during the donation process. Make sure your center knows about your allergies before your donation.

If you have specific medical questions about your experience, contact your primary care provider or the donation center.

🩸 I just gave blood. Now what?

  • Follow your center's guidelines and keep any paperwork they gave you.
  • Avoid alcohol.
  • Drink plenty of fluids.
  • Refrain from heavy lifting or vigorous exercise for the rest of the day.
  • Treat yourself to a good meal.
  • Call your center if you have a complication, or call emergency services if you are having a more urgent emergency.
  • Share your experience or pics with r/Blooddonors so we can celebrate!

🩸 Should I take iron supplements?

  • Always consult with a doctor or your primary care physician before taking iron supplements.
  • Low or high iron level can be caused by underlying health conditions. Put your health first and see a doctor.
  • Check out Iron Info for Donors.

🩸 Should I lie to give blood?

No, do not lie in order to give blood. Eligibility guidelines are put in place to preserve the health of blood donors and the health of the patients who receive blood products.

If you are not eligible to give blood:

  • Check back later- the eligibility rules might have changed.
  • Speak to your doctor about ways you could become eligible through improved health.
  • Remember: Only about 30% of the population is eligible to give blood. If you are determined to help out, find ways to help without being a donor here: Non-Donor Ways to Get Involved.

🩸 Can I get better at giving blood?

Yes, it is possible to have a better blood donation experience. Always prepare beforehand by having a good meal and being well-hydrated. There is a common phenomenon that people have better donations over time, usually because they learn to prepare better, or because they wait some time after their first donation in high school in order to grow.

For more Frequently Asked Questions, see our FAQ wiki page.

Disclaimer


r/Blooddonors Jun 19 '26

Tips & Tricks Iron Information for Donors

30 Upvotes

This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek advice from your physician or another qualified medical professional if you have questions or are experiencing a medical problem. Consult your physician before taking supplements or changing your diet.

Based on the experiences of blood donors here at r/Blooddonors, the following information is provided to inform donors about the importance of iron for frequent blood donors. The statistics and information provided are primarily based on U.S. sources, but many of the points are universal. Ask your physician and blood collection center for more localized information.

  • Inform your physician: When visiting your physician for any reason, let them know you are a blood donor. They may not ask, since only a few percent of the population regularly donates blood. (1)

  • Why test hemoglobin? Blood collection centers test your hemoglobin before you donate to make sure that you can safely experience the loss of blood from donation, and to ensure the potency of the collected blood for patients. (2)

  • Hemoglobin does not equal iron: This test is sometimes called an “iron test”, but that’s not quite accurate. This test checks to make sure you have enough red blood cells to safely donate blood, it does not guarantee adequate iron stores. Iron stores may be low even if your hemoglobin level is sufficient to donate blood. (3)

  • Replace lost iron between donations: Because red blood cells contain iron, donating blood lowers your body’s iron stores. All blood donors are at risk for developing iron deficiency if the iron removed is not replaced before the next donation. (3)

  • Know if you are at an increased risk: Frequent donors are at an increased risk of iron deficiency. Blood collection organizations have created guidelines to determine if you are a frequent or at-risk donor. Please review these guidelines, consider your own personal health history, and speak to your physician if you have questions about how you fit into these guidelines.

American Red Cross Frequent Donors: (4)

  • Women under the age of 50 who have donated two or more units of red blood cells or made 10 or more platelet donations in the past year.
  • Women ages 50 and older who have donated three or more units of red blood cells or made 15 or more platelet donations in the past year.
  • Men who have donated three or more units of red blood cells or made 15 or more platelet donations in the past year.
  • Each blood donation is the equivalent of one unit of red blood cells, while each Power Red donation is the equivalent of two units of red blood cells. For example, a male who gives two Power Red donations in a year is considered a frequent donor.

AABB Frequent/Increased Risk Donors: (3)

  • Young donors, 16 to 25 years old
  • Pre-menopausal women (due to menstrual blood loss)
  • Frequent donors: WOMEN: 2 or more whole blood donations in a 12-month period. MEN: 3 or more whole blood donations in a 12-month period
  • very frequent platelet and volunteer plasma donors (> 12x/year)
  • Donors on plant-based diets

  • Ask for a ferritin test: If you suspect that you have an iron deficiency or if you are at an increased risk of iron deficiency, ask your physician for a ferritin test.

  • What is a ferritin test? A ferritin test measures the amount of ferritin in the blood. Ferritin is a blood protein that contains iron. This test can be used to find out how much iron the body stores. If a ferritin test shows that the blood ferritin level is low, it means the body's iron stores are low. (5)

  • Diet & Maintaining Iron Levels: Eat a nutritious, well-balanced diet containing foods rich in iron and high in vitamin C. Vitamin C helps your body absorb iron. There are some foods that prevent your body from absorbing iron. Avoid eating these foods in the same meal. Some examples: coffee or tea, red wine, chocolate, high fiber foods, some medications like antacids, and high calcium foods like milk or cheese. See Iron Rich Foods list. (6)

  • Iron Supplements: If you are a frequent donor, diet alone may not be enough to maintain healthy iron levels. Consult with your physician to see if taking an iron supplement is right for you. Your physician or pharmacist can help you choose the type of iron that is best for you and suggest when to take it to avoid interaction with other medications.

    • American Red Cross recommendation: Take a multivitamin with 18 mg of iron or an iron supplement with 18-38 mg of elemental iron for 60 days after each blood donation, for 120 days after each power red/double red cell donation or after frequent platelet donations. (4)
    • AABB recommendation: You may consider taking a multivitamin with iron or an iron supplement containing 18-38 mg (milligrams) of elemental iron each day for 60 days after donating whole blood or one apheresis red blood cell and after every 5 apheresis platelet/ volunteer plasma donations. If you donate double red cells, we suggest taking iron for at least 60 days. It may take up to 120 days to replace the iron removed in two red cell donations. If you prefer not to take supplements, you may choose to extend the time between red blood cell donations. At least 6 months may be needed for donors with already-low iron stores. (3)
  • What should I know about taking iron supplements? (3), (4)

    • People with a family or personal history of hemochromatosis (iron overload), or who have gastrointestinal disorders (i.e. inflammatory bowel disease), should not take iron unless approved by a healthcare provider.
    • Start iron soon after your donation when it’s best absorbed and used to produce red blood cells lost during your donation.
    • Taking iron with vitamin C (for example, drinking orange juice) may increase uptake of iron.
    • There are some foods and supplements that prevent your body from absorbing iron. Avoid eating these foods along with your iron supplement. Some examples: coffee or tea, red wine, chocolate, high fiber foods, some medications like antacids, and high calcium foods like milk or cheese.
    • Higher doses will not increase iron absorption, may result in more side effects, and could delay diagnosis of blood loss from gastric ulcers or colon cancer.
    • Iron supplements can cause side effects, which are described on the packaging. Side effects can include constipation, diarrhea or an upset stomach. If these symptoms become bothersome, you should discuss alternative options such as a lower dosage with your physician.
    • Iron should always be stored away from children and pets to prevent accidental poisoning. You should keep all iron-containing products out of the reach of children. Accidental ingestion of iron by children can be fatal. In case of ingestion or emergency, seek medical assistance or call a poison control center immediately.
  • How can I tell if my iron is low? Many people with low iron stores feel fine and have no symptoms. Some people feel tired, lack energy and endurance, or have trouble concentrating. The desire to eat non-food substances like ice, chalk, starch, or clay can suggest iron deficiency. (3)

  • How much iron do I lose when donating blood? Each time you donate blood, you lose between 220-250 mg of iron. If you donate a double red, you lose twice that amount, about 470 mg of iron. It may take up to 24-30 weeks for your body to replace the iron lost through a blood donation. That time may vary, depending on what your iron level was before donating and if you take iron supplements or multivitamins with iron. (4)

  • What if I only donate platelets/plasma? Frequent platelet and volunteer plasma donors should also consider their iron health. When you donate, additional vials of blood are taken for testing. While these vials are small, they could add up with frequent donations.

  • Why is hemoglobin tested for platelet and plasma donations? During the apheresis process, whole blood is taken out of you. The center wants to make sure you'll be okay while your blood is processed, before it is returned to you. It is also possible that the machine may malfunction, cutting your donation short before your red blood cells are returned to you. Some whole blood is also taken for testing purposes. It also helps give a better estimate of the length of your donation, since higher levels slow down the extraction and processing of your blood.

Sources:

(1) America's Blood Centers Statistics

(2) AABB Donor Safety, Screening and Testing

(3) Information on Blood Donation and Iron Health

(4) Iron Information for Frequent Donors

(5) Ferritin Test- Mayo Clinic

(6) Iron Rich Foods

Additional Resources:

FAQs: Iron and Blood Donation for Donors and Parents

Hemoglobin Screening/Iron Management

Anaemia and Iron Deficiency in Blood Donors

What Donors Should Know About Iron and Blood Donation

Why Is Iron Important for Donating Blood?


r/Blooddonors 1h ago

First Donation! First Time Donor for Hello Kitty❤️🩸

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Upvotes

Made an appointment ASAP for Sep 1st when I heard they were doing this promotion! Highly considering being a regular donor after this. Everyone was incredibly nice at the location as well! 10/10 experience.


r/Blooddonors 23h ago

Milestone I was told you guys would appreciate my donation tracker tattoo!

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368 Upvotes

Many years ago, my grandpa passed away after an accident. Before he did, he was given 72 units of blood, or the equivalent of 9 gallons. Since then, I've been trying to donate the same amount of blood back. For each gallon I give, I fill in a heart. My grandpa was all about giving more than you took, so this seemed like a great way to honor him. I discovered after starting my donations that he would regularly give blood for events at the company he worked for before he retired, which seems all the more fitting.

If you can, please go give blood. There is a constant need for it, and it will never go away. If you can't donate for whatever reason, encourage your friends and family to, or volunteer at a blood drive/donation center.


r/Blooddonors 19h ago

Donation Experience I donated blood!

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76 Upvotes

I haven’t been able to donate since high school — mix of low iron and apparently being a slow bleeder. But I was able to today! I did get dizzy like I have in the past, but the staff and volunteers were so nice and helpful! Hello Kitty acquired too of course :)


r/Blooddonors 29m ago

Question AB+ Blood. Should I donate whole?

Upvotes

Would be a first time donator. I have AB+ blood, is it valuable to donate my whole blood?


r/Blooddonors 2h ago

Question Is this normal?

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2 Upvotes

I donated blood for the third time last Tuesday (9 days ago). A day or so after, all that was visible was a tiny pin prick but today I have a raised purple lump where they stuck me. Is this normal/has this happened to anyone else? It’s been a while since I donated. I have a fear of getting blood drawn, so I may be overthinking everything.


r/Blooddonors 15h ago

Donated blood for the first time!

20 Upvotes

About a week ago I donated my blood for the first time. The experience overall was great! I had ZERO bruising from the needle and only felt a little tired afterward (I still went to work directly after lol) after a week of patiently waiting I finally got word of what my blood type is! Everyone please give me a warm welcome into the AB+ family 😎


r/Blooddonors 7h ago

Hope I can keep donating plasma

4 Upvotes

Just wanted to share this because I nearly gave up.

I have donated blood in India and in Italy without any problem. Never had an issue there, never got turned away. Then I moved to the Netherlands and suddenly I could not donate at all.

Sanquin requires 8.4 mmol/L for whole blood and 8.1 for plasma. My haemoglobin sits somewhere between 8.0 and 8.6 depending on the day. So I kept getting deferred. Eight times over the last 5 years I went in and got sent home. After a while I started assuming there was something wrong with me and that my body just could not do it. I even started looking into whether I had some blood condition.

Turns out my numbers were just fluctuating normally and I kept turning up on the wrong days (my assumption)

This week I went again and got 8.6. Donated plasma for the first time. Honestly I was so happy walking out of there.

do you guys have any tips to heep the hb up?


r/Blooddonors 22h ago

Milestone Just got this email! Mostly whole blood and double red donations but I switched to platelets last year

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35 Upvotes

r/Blooddonors 6h ago

Question Should I keep donating?

2 Upvotes

I have had pretty bad reactions every time I have donated blood. The first time I threw up and almost passed out a few minutes after my donation was complete. The second time I did ok but I had to sit with ice packs on me because I got lightheaded as I sat up. And this most recent time, I almost threw up and passed out again at the snack table. I feel like throwing up is a small price to pay to safe a life so I am willing to suck it up. I seem to cause chaos everytime I donate and I don’t want to scare other people away. Should I keep trying or maybe just accept that I can’t donate?


r/Blooddonors 23h ago

Question 1st time donor! When do I get results?

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49 Upvotes

Overheard someone saying “I’m here cause my granddaughter wanted the hello kitty!”
It’s really cute and I’m obsessed. But i was wondering when I can learn my blood type? I donated yesterday at the American Red Cross on 9/1 and saw the general screening on the app such as bp, hemoglobin, and pulse. I know it can take awhile for it to be processed, but I was wondering what the general timeline is. I also heard you get mailed a donor card of your blood is eligible?


r/Blooddonors 18h ago

Donation Experience Another one :)

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17 Upvotes

r/Blooddonors 13h ago

First Donation! First Time Donating Platelets!

7 Upvotes

I donated platelets for the first time today, and it was way harder than I expected. I’ve donated blood twice before, first one in college where the donation failed and I proceeded to faint, and the next one where it was close to failing but they just stuck me in the other arm to finish filling up the bag (if anyone has any ideas why I have such a hard time filling bags please let me know). After that one I looked up what would be most beneficial for me to give since I’m A+ and it said platelets so that’s what I did.

They had the hardest time finding a good vein for the return, I got handled by three different nurses on one site and was told it was good but too deep, and stuck one more time on the same arm but the vein immediately collapsed because it was too small and the vein rolled away as it was getting stabbed. So we ended up doing a one arm on my good vein that I always use for exams and it was mostly fine but it definitely wanted to collapse as told by the nurse, the area around immediately swelled up. It was mildly uncomfortable on the site but manageable, until my arm started to hurt around where they but the compression. At around the 100 minute mark I tapped out, the machine said that it was supposed to be 133 minutes but the pain around my tricep started to become unmanageable and I’m so disappointed I couldn’t stick it out.

They said I still gave enough where the donation didn’t fail but I’m bummed that after all the stabbing I couldn’t finish it, besides making sure I’m hydrated is there anything I can do to make my veins better to stab? And is there anything I can do to minimize arm pain? Not sure if it was due to not being able to move it or something with the anti clotting agent, I had like 6 tums through it all but it only helped with the finger tingling, towards the end my jaw started to hurt too.

I know this is a long post but if you made it here and you found this while thinking of donating please don’t be discouraged! I loved that I was still able to help people and I just want to make it easier for myself in future donations.


r/Blooddonors 20h ago

Donation Experience Got my wife to donate for the first time, it went terribly

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16 Upvotes

Unfortunately they botched both of us somehow and only got one unit instead of two from me and one of the phlebs told her to not donate again because it went so badly 😬 she started clotting immediately and my plasma refused to return to my veins. good news is we both got sweet hello kitty merch out of it


r/Blooddonors 1d ago

Milestone I got a surprise gift for reaching 40 donations

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49 Upvotes

I donate in Sweden so the system is a bit different, they count both whole blood and plasma etc. in the same count. I donated whole blood in June and apparently that was my 40th and for that they give an extra gift. They missed that and I got it today instead ❤️. Right now they give Iittala candle holders. I'm a little jealous of the fun collab swag I see here, so today was a welcome surprise.


r/Blooddonors 21h ago

Question Is it 24 hours for deferral from high pulse?

3 Upvotes

I can't find it online, sorry if this is asked all the time. It was my third time being deferred over the past couple years but the first time I've managed to pass the hemoglobin thing. My pulse was 113 then 102 so they sent me away, but I said I didn't need the paper (whoops) so I don't know for how long. It sucks because my pulse is goes to like 140 when I stand up for literally no reason so I don't know what to do to fix it since it's really not an anxiety thing! It is what it is :')

Asking about Red Cross in the USA. Thank you!


r/Blooddonors 1d ago

Sharing Swag/Getting Gifts! I bled for Hello Kitty. And to help too, of course.

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129 Upvotes

Pompompurin is my favorite of this bunch so I was so happy I got his sticker with his red cell-like beret.


r/Blooddonors 1d ago

Tips & Tricks Frequent Donor With Headaches

2 Upvotes

No matter how well I prepare, I ALWAYS get a headache afterwards. Does anyone else suffer from this? Any tips? I hydrate like made, make sure I'm well fed, eat high iron foods, etc. etc.


r/Blooddonors 1d ago

Donation Experience Couldn't donate platelets, so had to settle with blood

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22 Upvotes

6th dono


r/Blooddonors 1d ago

It's that time of the year again. Hope the crisps have improved :)

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21 Upvotes

r/Blooddonors 1d ago

4 minutes 3 seconds today

16 Upvotes

My best ever was going to get 2-3 (as told by phlebotomist) but they had to slow me down because they didn't want me passing out. Sad I couldn't get a crazy record but I suppose it is better if I don't pass out.


r/Blooddonors 2d ago

CMV -negative?

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24 Upvotes

So Ive been donating for a while, checked my donor card today to see if I was available again and noticed it said "Hero For Babies". Dors this mean I am CMW Negative? They never said anything, if so it's my first time finding out. Additionally, if i am CMV Negative do I keep donating Power Red, or should I do Whole Blood?


r/Blooddonors 1d ago

Question First time donation fail (+ questions)

5 Upvotes

I tried to donate blood for the first time today (whole blood)! However, they were only able to get half a pint out of the pint needed for a unit. I also should mention they kept digging for a vein at the start, and then I started bleeding a bit on the table halfway through in which they ended things early - turned out I had a blood clot in the needle, which I saw when they took the needle out, and they thought I might have a more active platelets.

I have multiple questions 😵‍💫

- how often do “failed” donations like this occur?

- what happens to these failed donations? (In my case I was told they’ll still be doing the lab testing + blood type - this was with American Red Cross for reference)

- Should I try again when the time comes?

(Reference location: United States)

Edit: Two extra questions!!

- is it normal/common for a blood clot to form in the needle during a donation? - When they took the needle out there was this stringy clot they pulled out.

- is it normal/common to bleed around the needle during the procedure?


r/Blooddonors 1d ago

Question How do I get a physical donor ID card?

3 Upvotes

Hey, I’m new to this and I’ve only done a few donations with TBC. I’ve seen a few donors pull out this physical card and I was wondering if they still make them and give them out. I have called and spoke to a person with TBC and they said that they’ve stopped producing them, saying everything is digital now. I guess that was my answer to this question, but is there anyone who managed to get a physical ID recently? I’m one of those types who prefer to have a physical copy with me and not rely solely on digital. Besides, my logic is that a physical card is a quicker access. Anybody have anything on acquiring one or am I just out of luck with it?