After donation, your blood will be tested for blood type, hepatitis, HIV (AIDS antibody), HTLV-1, and syphilis. Then it can be used either as whole blood for one patient or, after separation into components (such as red cells, platelets, and plasma) to help several patients.

After donation, your blood will be tested for blood type, hepatitis, HIV (the AIDS virus), HTLV (human t-cell lymphotropic virus), West Nile Virus, and syphilis. The American Red Cross also tests for antibodies to T.cruzii microorganism (Chagas' disease.) Then it can be used either as whole blood for one patient or, after separation into components, to help several patients.

Donating cord blood is medically safe. Donating poses no health risks to you or your baby. Donating does not affect your baby or your birth experience because the cord blood is collected after your baby is born. If you or your baby experience any complications during delivery, your doctor will not collect the cord blood. There is no cost for donating for public use.

You must show a valid photo I.D in order for a donor technician to complete computer registration for your donation. Then you answer questions relating to your medical history. A brief "mini-physical" tests your blood pressure, the iron content of your blood, your body temperature and pulse. The actual whole blood donation only lasts between four and eight minutes. Donors are requested to rest afterwards for about ten minutes before leaving.

No. Cord blood collection is non-invasive and painless to both the mother and baby. Cord blood collection only takes place after a successful delivery has been accomplished.

Absolutely! There is no way to contract a disease from donating blood. The bag sets are for one time use only. They are kept in sterile packaging until they are needed. Once a unit has been drawn, the needle is immediately disposed of. There is no way to re-use a needle on another bag set. Also, the area surrounding the phlebotomy site is thoroughly cleansed with iodine to greatly reduce the chances of a skin infection.

No, you cannot get HIV from donating blood. The equipment used is sterile and used only once, then immediately discarded. A new needle is used for each donation.

Donating Blood is not painful and is completely safe for the donor. It takes approximately 5 minutes to donate blood and about 10 minutes for post donating rest and refreshment. Only 350 to 450 ml blood is taken which gets replaced in the body within 24 hours.

The donor is asked for his/her name, address and other personal data (picture ID is required. He/she will be given educational material to read describing AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) and explaining how people become at risk of having been infected by the AIDS virus. People at risk of transmitting viruses and disease are asked not to donate blood. Next, temperature, pulse, and blood pressure are recorded.

You should eat a good meal that includes iron-rich foods – like red meat; green, leafy vegetables; and iron-fortified cereals – and drink plenty of fluids one to two hours before donating blood.

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 (whole blood, platelets, plasma). The needed component part is then made available to the patient. Patients who have cancer, leukemia, transplants and blood disorders need platelets.

It is the safest source of blood. It prevents the risk of possible reactions to another person's blood, transmission of diseases and allergic reactions.

Juice and cookies, of course! Also, the University Student Blood Drive Organization now has some funding to provide some gifts to give as rewards to donors and volunteers, so you may receive an SBU T-shirt, Loews movie ticket, coffee mug, or another great prize for giving the gift of life! Donors also report feeling a great deal of satisfaction because they are helping to save up to 5 lives by giving just one pint of blood.

Donating cord blood will not change your labor or delivery in any way. During delivery, all the focus is on you and your baby. No blood is taken from your baby, only from the cord and placenta after the baby is born.

No! We always use what's called "aseptic" technique, each needle is used only once, then discarded properly.

Giving blood is a safe and simple procedure that carries very little risk. It is not possible to acquire any disease through the donation process, since a new disposable, sterilized needle is used for each donation. A very small percentage of donors - less than one-half of one percent - experience a mild reaction during or immediately following the donation process. However, this usually passes very quickly with no lasting effects.

Simply call Hoag Blood Donor Services at 949/764-5621 to schedule your appointment. You will need to allow about an hour for the entire process.

Donors must be at least 18 years of age, but 17-year-olds may donate with a signed BBH parental consent form. There is no maximum age limit.

You may resume routine activities after donating blood, but avoid heavy lifting and vigorous exertion for about 24 hours. You may resume your regular exercise routine, but with caution. If you feel dizzy, please sit or lie down immediately. If you plan to participate in an athletic competition, you may wish to defer your donation until after the competition.

People who have certain conditions, such as high blood pressure or anemia, are typically eligible to donate if the condition is under control on the day of donation. Many medications are also acceptable. We often follow the rule of mending versus maintenance. If you are recovering, you probably cannot donate. However, if you take a medication regularly to control a condition, you may be able to donate.

No. HIV and other transmissible viruses cannot be contracted through blood donation. The equipment used is sterile and used only once, then immediately discarded, and a new needle is used for each donation. There may be a little sting when the needle is inserted, but there should be no pain during the donation.

The deferral from donating while on antibiotics is not for the antibiotic itself, but for the underlying condition for which the antibiotic is being taken. It is possible that the infection or illness may be transmitted through a blood transfusion. Generally speaking, the deferral is temporary and a donor may resume giving blood when symptom free and the course of antibiotics is completed.

The body replaces the donated blood volume within a few hours. It takes several weeks to replace the donated red cells. Donors can safely give blood every eight weeks.