do blood banks pay
Why can’t someone my size donate blood more often?
Okay, I am 6’1″ and weigh 225 pounds. According to the Red Cross and our local blood bank, a person can only donate a pint of blood every 60 days. But I will let you in on a secret. I donate a pint every month. One with Red Cross, the other with our local blood bank. Apparently they don’t share info among themselves.
I don’t do it for money. Neither of them pay for blood. But I have got a lot of cool T-shirts for different milestones. 4 gallons, 5 gallons…..
Why is there such a strict limit on the 60 days per pint. I have never suffered any problems donating more often than I should. Shouldn’t they consider a person’s size? I could see a 5’2″ 110 pound person being told to wait 2 months.
The FDA regulates all aspects of blood collection in the US. Current guidelines allow 10.5mL per kilogram body weight for whole blood collection every 56 days. Studies of donors have shown that this period allows the body to replenish lost red cell volume while maintaining iron stores. Within the last month, the Center for Biologics and Evaluation Research of the FDA has suggested increasing the donation interval and/or increasing minimal hematocrit/hemoglobin levels for donation. While your body size and hematocrit have been able to sustain increased donation intervals, you may eventually draw down your iron stores and begin to show signs of iron deficiency. While your generosity is outstanding, please do not donate more than recommended. Patient care is important, but your health is of equal concern. With your size, a double red cell apheresis donation should be no problem, but you will be deferred for 16 weeks.
On another note, honesty on the donor questionnaire is the first step in providing a safe blood supply. If your excessive donation schedule were to be discovered, FDA guidelines would require an investigation and possible recall of all shipped components (due to false answers). You could face indefinite deferral as a volunteer donor. Please follow the recommended donation intervals.
Lloyd Banks – I’m Back – Another 70 Bars