Becoming a donor requires a time commitment. Before you donate, there are several steps to make sure you are the best donor for the patient. These steps include an information session to provide resources to help you make your decision, as well as appointments for additional blood tests and a physical exam. The time needed for the actual donation depends on the donation procedure. On average the entire process can take 40 to 46 hours over four to eight weeks.

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.

Don't be scared! Consider bringing a friend to talk to--and don't forget that there will be HBD volunteers (fellow Harvard students) at the drive to help you though--just let one of them know if they can help you in some way. Here's a list of tips to make your donation as easy as possible. One of the easiest things you can do is to make sure to eat a full meal and drink lots of fluids before donating.

It is the job of the plateletpheresis nurse to keep you comfortable while you recline enjoying TV or a video. You will be kept warm and cozy under some soft blankets. Some donors feel a slight tingling sensation around their lips and nose when they donate. This is a mild reaction to the blood anticoagulant used in the procedure and can be minimalized if you tell the nurse.

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.

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.

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.

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.

It takes the body 24 – 48 hours to replace the plasma portion that is about 80% water and 3 – 5 weeks to replace the red cells. Donors are encouraged to drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluid before and following the donation to assist the replacement process. Also, regular and frequent donors should eat plenty of iron-containing foods (ex. meat).

The plasma portion of a donation is replaced within hours, the platelet portion within days and red blood cells in about 56 days. This is why blood donors cannot give more often than once every 56 days.

Although it may seem like a lot of blood goes into the tubes, it is really a very small portion of your total blood supply. Each tube contains about one teaspoon of blood compared to the average adult's total blood volume of about 1 gallon. If you have a drink of water or juice right after, your blood volume will be back to normal within an hour or so. Your body will replace the missing blood cells within a few days.

Plan to spend an hour for the entire blood donation process, which includes some paper work and a mini physical. The actual blood collection of blood takes just 5 to 8 minutes. After donating, you will rest, enjoy refreshments and experience the satisfaction of knowing that you just saved up to three lives. It will be the best hour of your day. Comfort levels vary from person to person but many donors say there is nothing to it. You will feel a slight pinch and it is all over before you know it!

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.