Ans. Giving blood is a very simple and straight forward process. On arrival at a blood bank, you will be asked to fill a few details on a donor form. Your medical history will be taken by a medical personnel in an area which provides adequate privacy. Blood Banks routinely take a small drop of blood to ensure that you aren't anemic. After you pass this simple medical screening process, you will be escorted to a blood donation area.

Identifying information is never exchanged between a cord blood donor and cord blood transplant recipient. The identity of the cord blood donor is kept confidential at the cord blood bank.

Blood you donate here at Hoag begins being processed for use by our patients as soon as you donate. You'll get the satisfaction of knowing you have directly helped another person and a free mini-medical examination including a blood pressure check. An identification card showing your blood group and Rh type will be mailed to you and you will become a member of our Gallon Club when you have given 8 blood donations.

Although the blood supply today is very safe, autologous blood is the safest and most compatible blood for you.

Your physician may recommend autologous blood donation if there is a possibility that you may need a blood transfusion during or after your surgical procedure. Autologous (pronounced aw-TOL-o-gous) blood donation is when you donate and store your own blood prior to your surgery. During surgery, should you require a transfusion, the blood that you donated will be given back to you.

Once you've given blood, the staff at Bonfils Blood Center continues our life-saving work by typing, testing, processing, storing and distributing your gift to patients in need. Learn more at Because Life Happens.

You should donate blood because it's an easy, relatively painless thing to do. The safety of the nation's blood supply is dependent on volunteer blood donors. 60% of the nation's population will require a blood transfusion at some time in their lives. Despite this fact, only 2% of the eligible donors in Southern California participate in blood donation. You'll feel good about doing something for someone else. It's an opportunity to share your good health with others.

Occasionally, your blood sugar level may get too low if you are taking insulin. This can happen if you delay a meal or exercise more than usual, especially at the time your insulin is working at its peak. This low blood sugar is called "hypoglycemia" or an "insulin reaction." This is a medical emergency and should be promptly treated, never ignored. The symptoms of insulin reaction vary from sweating, shakiness, or dizziness to feeling faint, disoriented, or a tingling sensation.

Patients scheduled for surgery may be eligible to donate blood for themselves in the weeks before non-emergency surgery in a process known as autologous donation. If an autologous donation is not used, it is discarded. Family members and friends can also make directed donations. Directed donations are fully tested, so if they are not used by the intended patient, they can be released for use by other patients.

The American Red Cross has created a strong operations network that helps us direct your blood donation to the areas of the country — or the world — where they are most needed. While you can't direct your donation to be specifically routed to military personnel, you can be sure that it will be sent to the areas of most critical need.

The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) is committed to building a strong network and inventory of high-quality cord blood units available to any patient who needs a transplant. We work with expectant parents and public cord blood banks to increase the number and diversity of cord blood units available for patients. We are also committed to improving transplant results for patients. That is why we are conducting a research study on cord blood transplantation and patient outcomes.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus spread by air droplets (from coughing & sneezing), sexually, and by blood contact. In healthy persons it may cause minor flu-like symptoms, cough, sore throat and enlarged glands (resembling infectious mono), or no symptoms at all. It occurs at all ages, and by adulthood, blood tests show that about 50 percent of healthy adults have had the virus (and are now immune to it).

Your body replenishes the fluid lost from donation within 24 hours. It may take up to two months to replace to lost Red Blood Cells.

Ans. Every time you donate a unit of blood at a blood bank, which is a member of the association of Voluntary Blood Banks, you will receive a certificate and a Blood Donation Card. This card can be used by you to get blood from the registered blood bank when you have a need. Also, every time you donate blood, screening tests are done on the blood for jaundice, hepatitis, AIDS etc. Hence, you are able to get screened for these communicable diseases free of charge.

Ans. Anything, but preferably something. Eating light snacks and a drink (nonalcoholic) before blood donation makes you psychologically more comfortable. Drink some liquid like tea, cold drink, juice, etc. to replenish fluid and eat some snacks. All this will be available for you at the blood bank.

The blood is taken to our laboratory, where it is separated into three components: red blood cells, platelets and plasma. Thirteen different tests are performed to ensure safety and then the lifesaving products are transported to civilian hospitals all over the state to meet the needs of Hawaii's patients.

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 you donate, your blood is tested for HIV, Syphilis, Hepatitis, Malaria etc to be sure that it is safe as possible for a patient to receive.

We are committed to maximal utilization of all donated blood. Some of the blood that is beyond its shelf-life is used for research or manufacture of test reagents. The rest is transported by a licensed waste management company for proper disposal.

For questions about this page, please contact the Lead Program at lead@health.state.mn.us or 651-201-4620. For specific lead questions, please use the contacts listed on our Contact Us page.