Can I donate if I am less than 18 years of age?

If you are younger and wish to donate under special circumstances you should seek permission from your parents and speak to the doctor.

What is the normal safe interval between blood donations?

Normally it is about 56 days for whole blood donation. In men the recommended time period is 3 months and in women 4 months.

Is there any upper age limit to blood donation?

The recommended age limit is 55 years. But a fit and healthy person can donate up to even 60 years or above depending on the requirement.

How much blood is removed during donation and how soon does it get replaced in the body?

The amount of blood withdrawn varies from 350ml- 450ml. It normally takes 24hrs for the blood volume to be replaced. And red cells get replaced in about 6 weeks,.

Will I become physically weak or get any infection after blood donation?

No if you are in normal health there is no cause for concern. The chances of infections are minimum if you donate to a reputed lab as they take all the necessary precautions.

Why should I donate Blood?

Blood is required everyday by hospitals. There are about 80 million units of blood that are donated each year by voluntary and paid donors. However there is still a shortage of blood more so in developing counties. Only 38% of the total blood collected is from the developing countries, where a staggering 82% of the world's population live. Several of these countries are dependent on paid donors.

What happens to recipients who receive incompatible blood?

• Patient complains of shivering, nausea, vomiting and restless ness
• Pericardial and lumbar pain may occur
• Cold, clammy skin
• Cyanosis
• Pulse rate and respiratory rate increases
• Temperature rises to 38 to 40 deg C
• Blood pressure decreases and the patient enters a state of shock.
• Sometimes complications can lead to death.

What are the other causes of fatality during Allogenic Blood Transfusions (ABT) besides viral infections?

Transfusion-Related Acute Lung Injury (TRALI),
Transfusion-Associated Sepsis (TAS) and Hemolytic
Transfusion Reactions (HTRs), are the other leading factors associated with ABT deaths.

What is cord blood donation?

The blood from the umbilical cord of a new-born baby is extracted and stored in a bank. This blood is rich in stem cells which is useful in the treatment of many diseases.

Can I donate blood frequently?

Yes you can donate blood regularly. Many blood banks depend on voluntary regular blood donor. Frequent blood donors have no health ill effects. If you are a frequent blood donor write to Medindia and share your story with us.

Who should I contact if I wish to donate blood?

Contact the nearest blood bank or blood transfusion department of any major hospital in your town. Lion’s Blood Bank has branches in many cities. This information is easily available in telephone directories. You can also use Medindia’s free utility for this purpose.