Frequently Asked Questions for Giving Blood

Who can give blood?
To be eligible to give blood, you must:

• Be between 17 and 75 years old*
• Weigh at least 110 pounds
• Be in good physical health the day you donate
• Have not donated whole blood in the last 56 days or platelets in the last 3 days 

*If you are 16 years old, in good condition, and have parental permission, you may give blood.  Get the permission form here

Can I give blood when I'm sick?
No, you cannot give blood when you're sick. you must be physically healthy at the time of donation.

Here are some common reasons for temporarily being unable to donate blood:

Condition	Waiting Time
Not feeling well for any reason	Until symptoms are over
A cold, sore throat, respiratory infection	Until symptoms are over
Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath	Until symptoms are over
Taking antibiotics (except for acne or vaginal or urethra infection)	Three days after treatment is over
Piercing and acupuncture	One year unless done under sterile conditions
Tattoos	One year after last tattoo
Received a blood transfusion	One year after receiving blood
Full-term pregnancy	Six weeks after delivery
Abortion or miscarriage	Six weeks (if after the first trimester)
Surgery	When healing is complete and full activity is resumed
Major dental work	72 hours after procedure and stitches are removed (cleanings and fillings are OK)
Sexually transmitted diseases such as venereal disease, Chlamydia, genital herpes, syphilis, gonorrhea	One year following diagnosis and treatment
Have had sex with a prostitute	One year after last incident
Open-heart surgery	One year after surgery and no longer on Cardiac mediction (excluding anti-platelet drugs such as Aspirin) and have resumed normal activity
Exposed to measles, mumps, or chicken pox	Three weeks from day of exposure (unless previously vaccinated or had the disease)
Lyme disease	Six months after symptoms are over
Recently taken MMR or chicken pox vaccine	One month after last dose
Skin Cancer	Localized Basal Cell or Squamous Cell Carcinoma, if completely excised and healed
Carcinoma	In situ of Cervis or Breast: Papillary Thyroid is acceptable after completion of therapy
Cancer	Must be in remission for 5 years

Who cannot give blood?
You may not give blood if you:

• Have used intravenous drugs
• Are a man who has had sex with another man since 1977
• Are a hemophiliac
• Have ever had a positive HIV test** Please do not give blood to find out if you are HIV positive. For information on confidential testing, call your local health department.
• Have had sex for money or drugs any time since 1977
• Have had hepatitis any time since your 11th birthday
• Have multiple sclerosis
• Have had a stroke
• Have had babesiosis or chagas disease
• Have taken tegison for psoriasis
• Have had leukemia, lymphoma or Hodgkin's Disease
• Lived in the UK for 3 months or more from 1980 - 1996
• Lived in certain countries in Europe for a cumulative time of 5 years or more from 1980 to the present
• Have Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease (CJD) or if an immediate member of your family has CJD

Please Note:

• Most people with diabetees, and most people on medications other than those noted above, are eligible to donate blood. For specific medical eligibility guidelines, call us at 1-718-780-3644.
• Federal guidelines may exclude people, permanently or temporarily, from donating blood if they were born in, have lived in, or have traveled to or from certain countries outside of the United States.

Can I donate blood to a friend or family member?

You may donate blood for a family member or friend.  This type of donation is a
directed or designated donation.  It requires the consent of the patient and the
patient's physician.  The designated donor must meet the same criteria as a regular donor.

To provide sufficient time for the blood to be tested, the donation must take place at
least five working days in advance of the expected transfusion.  If the intended recipient
doesn't need the transfusion, the blood can be made available to other patients.

Can I donate blood for myself?

You may donate you own blood in advance of your own surgical procedure.
This is an autologous or autogenic donation.  Special requirements for this type
of donation are:

• You must not have a history of heart disease or stroke
• You must be able to emotionally tolerate the donation process
• Although there is no weight limit, you must be able to tolerate a 10-15
  percent blood volume reduction
• The consent of the surgeon is required
• Some medical conditions may require additional medical clearance.
• Up to three units of blood may be donated.  Each donation must take
  place at least one week apart.  Blood can be collected up to 72 hours before surgery.

How can I host a blood drive in my community?

Community and business-based blood drives account for the majority of all
blood donations.  We are happy to accommodate both large and small groups.
If your organization would like to host a blood drive, here's all you have to do:

• Provide an appropriate location - a meeting room, gymnasium, or any
  large, well-lit space will do
• Pick a day and time that will maximize participation
• Talk to people - there is no better recruitment tool
• Have someone available on the day of the drive to act as host / hostess
   

We bring all the equipment and supplies, along with juice and cookies, necessary
for a successful blood drive.  To arrange to host a blood drive, please call
718-780-3644 or email Grace Gehrke at donateblood@nym.org.

What is the process for donating blood?
The entire process of donating blood usually takes about 30 minutes.  This includes
the pre-screening, the donation, and a brief rest period immediately following the donation.

Before
You should eat a regular meal on the day of your donation.  Remember to bring
identification.  At the donation site you will be asked to provide basic information
about yourself, such as name, address, and phone number. The Donor Center staff
 will check your pulse, blood pressure, temperature, and hemoglobin level.  We will
also ask you a few questions about your medical history.

During
The actual process of donating blood takes only 5 to 10 minutes.  One unit of blood
(about one pint) will be collected.

After
After the collection process, we provide refreshments and the opportunity to rest.
Your body starts to replenish its blood supply almost immediately.  Drink extra fluids
for the first 24 hours after donating.  You will receive a donor's card with your blood type
and total cholesterol level results about 3 weeks.

What happens to my blood after it is collected?
After being collected at the donor site, blood is taken to the blood bank.  There, some
of the blood is used for screening purposes (HIV, HTLV, hepatitis, syphilis).  Some is
tested to determine your blood type and to measure your cholesterol level.  The rest is
processed and broken down into its component parts.

How many blood types are there?
There are eight types of blood, broken down as follows:

Blood Type	Percent of Population
O Positive	38%
A Positive	34%
B Positive	9%
AB Positive	3%
O Negative	7%
A Negative	6%
B Negative	2%
AB Negative	1%

Remember... The rarest blood type is the one not available when needed.

How often can I donate blood?
You can donate blood every 56 days