blood donation process step by step

They’ll be more than happy to explain the process to you in greater detail.

By using our site, you agree to our. If you don't have time to eat a lot of fruit, you can drink fruit juice instead to get the nutrients and stay hydrated! Then, call the blood bank to make an appointment. Log onto the website of the American Red Cross and use their Blood Drive Locator to find out where you can go to give blood in your area. (First-time donors are usually asked to present two forms of identification—the type of identification needed varies by facility). Cryo-poor plasma is the plasma remaining after some blood clotting proteins (cryoprecipitate) have been removed from fresh frozen plasma. A drop of blood from your finger will also be tested to ensure that your blood iron level is sufficient for you to donate.

If you have any questions concerning your donation or experience any unexpected problems, please call the center where you donated blood. Can I be 100% sure my blood will be used to save someone's life?

This only takes around 10 minutes. While the technician will do a couple of preliminary tests, they won't test protein. To learn more from our Registered Nurse co-author, like how long you need to wait before donating again, keep reading the article! If bruising or bleeding appears under the skin, apply a cold pack periodically to the bruised area during the first 24 hours, then warm, moist heat intermittently.

Fruit should be part of your meal, but it's important that you're eating a balanced meal, too! Take your time before leaving the donation center-- wait at least 20 minutes before leaving to make sure you feel okay! If your night sweats are due to an illness, you might wait until you recover before you donate blood.

He is asked some basic health questions, and a small sample of Gaurav’s blood is taken to assess whether he is healthy enough to give blood that day. Jennifer Boidy is a Registered Nurse in Maryland.

The donor, lets call him Gaurav, goes into a room where he is asked to sit down in the donation area. First, contact your local health clinic or blood drive program to find out whether you’re an eligible donor. There’s a better option out there! Don’t forget to bring your official Blood Donor card if you’ve donated in the past. Platelets can save the lives of those who need an organ transplant or chemotherapy. Is it possible to donate blood while being on ADHD medicines? Avoid strenuous activities like exercising, playing sports, or mowing the lawn for at least 5 hours after donating. To measure your hemoglobin and iron levels, the technician will prick your fingertip an analyze the blood droplet. This is where fresh plasma is frozen and then centrifuged. This is due to your body’s fluid levels and oxygenated blood levels being lower than you’re used to. In these cases, there's a fear of spreading undiagnosed "mad cow disease" to unsuspecting recipients.

Blood Donation. Factor VIII (used for the treatment of Haemophilia A, a disease that causes excessive bleeding).

Click on another answer to find the right one... Not exactly! This is a very important step, as there are certain diseases such as HIV and hepatitis B & C that can be transmitted to a person receiving blood.

There are 27 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Master's Degree, Nursing, University of Tennessee Knoxville. She received her Associate of Science in Nursing from Carroll Community College in 2012.

Showing it will allow you to skip a lot of unnecessary paperwork. Not quite! This may distract you from the potential pain. It is stored frozen and thawed when needed. The technician will do a quick finger poke test to determine these levels before you start the process. Pre-donation educationand counselling will be given by a trained professional staff. A phlebotomist (a person trained to take blood) sterilizes Gaurav’s arm before drawing around 500ml blood. Gaurav’s blood is then fractionated, meaning it is separated into its smaller parts. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. A quick checkup is needed to assess your physical condition and ensure that the donated blood is coming from a healthy individual. Low blood pressure can cause you to become lightheaded. Water won't help you feel less dizzy, but there is an even easier solution!

No matter when you are giving blood, make sure you have recently eaten a full meal! Luckily, Gaurav is healthy. Nope! Once the pre-donation screening is finished, you will proceed to a donor bed where your arm will be cleaned with an antiseptic, and a professional will use a blood donation kit to draw blood from a vein in your arm. When making the appointment, ask the following questions: You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Not only will this make your blood beneficial to others, it will help you feel better throughout the donation process. If you're only donating platelets, you can make another donation after 3 days or return to donate whole blood after a week. What kind of identification is required? Both cryoprecipitate and cryo-poor  plasma are frozen and thawed when needed.