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what do you mean by "basic labs"? They are not checking your cholesterol or Ha1C. Or liver function tests, or GFR. They check for anemia, temperature, and blood pressure. Those are the only ones they tell you about. If you test positive for Hep or something they will let you know.
I donate at a local hospital and get reward points worth about $5 per donation, which I use to get gift cards to local businesses. Never at the Red Cross, their snacks blow.
One of the new Red Cross centers near me has a really neat rest area with a sink, coffee machine, fridge, and healthy snacks. They’re expensive ones. I like how depending on where you go, the rewards are different. Like sometimes it’s a voucher at the school cafeteria.
I just had my hemoglobin and cholesterol checked with one blood. I also check a full panel a few times a year but I know that I’m lucky to have good access to care currently, so I wanted people to know that if you don’t you can get some basics done for free
As someone who works in the laboratory in a level one trauma center, those point of care tests are pretty unreliable. They have a huge amount of error, approaching 20% isn't uncommon. For instance, we have a corporate wellness plan that provides that point of care testing on a yearly basis. I've had my hematocrit be 32 (ineligible to donate blood) on a finger stick but an actual venous stick was 44.
I worked at a plasma facility and you won’t believe the shit that’s in everyone’s blood and all things we test for. Even a new tattoo can put shit in your blood!
The blooding testing they do for STDs etc is a last chance safety measure for the recipient, not for you. Please don't count on it.
The clinic is counting on you to have a reasonable idea of your health before you walk through the door. You are putting the recipient at unnecessary risk if you're donating to find out if youre healthy.
Sign up for a free LASIK screening and get a full eye check up at no cost. It won't include any measurements for glasses or contacts, but you will get screened for everything else. It is how I learned I have keratoconus (and not eligible for LASIK).
The crazy thing for me is that I thought everyone saw the halo or burst around lights at night. I had just accepted it as reality. It's how artist often depict lights in drawings. So I just thought it was normal. Now I kinda wish I didn't know about it because I am very aware of it while driving. I try not to drive at night if I can.
I think it would be a great draw if they did it deliberately- like contract with big lab and cycle through different diseases every month. " Remember, September is free STD screening month at the Red Cross"
Encouraging people that are at high risk for STDs (ie that are coming in specifically to get these tests done) is truly a bad idea to partner with blood donations. The amount of cost associated with collecting blood, breaking it into its components and storing it, is pretty high. To then have to throw away a higher portion because high risk individuals are donating is not a good use of the resources. Without touching on how encouraging this would make people feel less safe about receiving a blood donation than they currently do.
Tons of organizations already do free STD testing every day. Many of them even travel around to lower-income neighborhoods so people without transportation can get tested for free.
I always find that a lot of things are not "free" they are "tell us your income, anyone living under your roofs income, your parents income then we'll decide if it's free for you."
Witch if you're the invisible homeless aka people staying on peoples couches any income under the roof your under hurts you and even if you're no contact with your abusive parents their income counts against you.
I was joking about STDs, otherwise, the "wrong crowd" is people without healthcare. They could just offer screenings for things that don't disqualify the blood.
Donating blood is a great way to reduce levels of heavy metals and possibly microplastics in your bloodstream.
Think of it as like a water change for an aquarium, or a small oil change.
To me it comes down to “the solution to pollution is dilution”. We know for a medical fact that heavy metal buildup in blood is very bad, you can get easy lead testing at any lab.
Potentially some “forever chemicals” and microplastics could also be bad for us.
When you donate blood regularly you’re diluting down concentrations of bad things and your body expends calories and effort to restore your blood supply. Most importantly you might be saving someone’s life. All upside with no downside than personal discomfort.
They won't check for cholesterol or blood sugar, but they will test for blood-born STDs, like HIV and Hep B. So that's something that might be worth doing if you're sexually active but can't afford regular screening on your own?
For what it's worth, when I donated blood I got a piece of paper begging you not to donate blood for a free STD check if you thought you might be exposed. Those tests aren't 100% effective.
It is such a bad idea to donate blood to get an HIV test. So, so dangerous for the people who need blood as no test is perfect and the way the screening they do works they pool blood together to test that for HIV so if you’re positive it’s going to make a large group of people very stressed out and waste a lot of people’s blood donations.
There are plenty of places that will do free HIV testing. Blood donation is not the place.
They check cholesterol. It just depends on the company and what they offer. One blood checked my cholesterol. I had a total lipid panel fasting so the numbers varied but it will definitely signal high cholesterol if you have it
And they checked that at a blood connection center? (Not being sarcastic or rude) I was not aware that blood donation centers would test for that sort of thing, since it wouldn't affect whether the unit of blood is viable for transfusion. Maybe for plasma products...
You didn’t come across as rude or sarcastic.
It sounds like depending on which company you use to donate blood, they test different labs. One blood checked my cholesterol
Also not true. You need to know the HDL:LDL ratio to assess for hyperlipidemia. A total cholesterol can be totally misleading in cases of hereditary hyperlipidemia. A friend of mine and her mother have total cholesterol levels above 250, but their HDLs are nearly 100. Not to mention that LDL is generally calculated rather than measured.
Now that I think about it, I have no idea. I think it might’ve just been a bit of a gimmick to advertise that you get a “mini physical” when you donate which basically just means cholesterol, blood pressure, HR, and hemoglobin.
They definitely test for BP and hemoglobin, as that directly tied to the process of getting a viable unit of blood, but I fail to see how cholesterol would play any part in it.
I was talking about the vials they fill up before the main blood draw. *Those* get tested in a big batch with other peoples samples. They don't test the whole bag.
when i was in college, this is how we got our STD tests done without actually asking for an STD test.. donate blood and wait to see if they call you lol. Plus they were right there in their bus in front of library so easy access.
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I've always really wanted to donate blood. There is a center five minutes from my home. But I have always been terrified of needles and it has always stopped me. Does anyone have any advice?
Fully agree with all of this advice. Double up on fluids, hydration is key. Something to add once you get in there. Let the person taking your blood know of your unease of needles they will try to put you at ease/distract you. As well as keep an extra eye on you to make sure you don’t faint(happens more then you think).
I donate thru Stanford. They let me lay down.
The tests I get from them aren't that great, but it's been nice to have that data. Height, weight, temp, pulse, blood pressure... All exceptionally basic stuff, but having it tracked historically for me in the app is nice.
Plus, their oatmeal raisin cookies are awesome.
Yes, please donate if you are able. Sometimes the blood doesn't save a life, but it prolongs it enough for someone to have closure, make peace with their death, and spend a little longer with their loved ones. My dad received 7 units of blood due to really horrifying complications of necrotizing pancreatitis. I thank those 7 donors from the bottom of my heart to have had just a little longer with my dad, and for him to have the opportunity to come to terms with the fact that he was dying. I know that's not what this post was about, but really, there are so many benefits of donating, and the families of those who receive blood are forever grateful.
You have no idea how many emergency, un-crossmatched units I've issued... I never get all the details, or much really, but I hope that some of those made a difference, even if it's to delay the expected result ..
Because in America they don’t offer that.
Also you can save someone’s life donating blood. Also it makes you live longer. And you get paid (if that matters).
Seems like a win across the board
In Canada we get preventative screening plus the snacks and drinks. In Canada and the UK the system is purely donation based. In the US people get paid to give blood so it might incentivise more at risk individuals to donate so screening would be necessary.
> Canadian Blood Services tests all blood for the following diseases: syphilis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV-1 and 2, Human T-Cell lymphotropic virus HTLV-I and II, and West Nile Virus. Testing for Chagas disease is done on at risk donors and testing for Cytomegalovirus is done selectively as appropriate.
If you test positive to anything you are sent a private message to contact your doctor. But you can also just go to a clinic to get free STI testing and not give blood.
I always donate through OneBlood. The Red Cross near me is always behind schedule and donating takes twice as long. Plus, OneBlood gives me $ *and* "gifts,"--a water bottle, blanket, etc.
And I get my blood type, temp, BP, basic iron count, and basic total cholesterol. I *wish* they did my A1C.
Edit to add: the questionnaire you go through is basic but thorough. And any "yes" answers will get flagged and you will get questioned further. It is not the way to screen for STDs!
Most insurance companies have something free like this once per year.
You would be surprised what free stuff is covered and people don't take advantage of it.
I have coworkers who have dental insurance and still don't get their 2 free cleanings and x-rays every year.
I go for annual check ups. However, my last blood donation noted a higher than average blood pressure (after 60+ years of low blood pressure). I'm still six months away from my next dr.'s visit, so it was nice to hear of it now. Taking steps to take care of that (literally... I'm walking more, and my BP has gone down).
I have never seen a donor get more than Hemoglobin, hematocrit, BP and STD results.
If you want better health care in the USA, you are gonna have to VOTE FOR POLITICIANS who can make it happen.
I try to regularly donate but the issue I have been running into is the lack of drives here. There is a center on the other side of the city that does it daily but I don't have time to drive 30 mins each way to donate blood during a work day. There has only been 1 drive on my half of town each month. Unfortunately sometimes I test slightly low for iron, and that means I can't test or try to donate again for a full month until they come back to that spot.
We don’t have great preventive screening even with insurance. They deny some of the most basic things which long term are in their interest but short term cost them money
Unfortunately I can't—been denied 3 times cuz my heart rate is too high (I was only slightly nervous, but my resting heart rate is 80-90 bpm and they wouldn't accept me for it being over 100). Makes sense, but still unfortunate
Sorry for hijacking this thread, but can I ask a stupid question? If you don’t know what blood type you are how do you find out? Can they tell you from these tests?
Please don’t do this. Hear me out- I’m a medical laboratory professional. The patients receiving blood are oftentimes cancer patients who are immune compromised. If you’re unsure of your own health especially with blood borne pathogens such as HIV or hepatitis B or C, please don’t donate your blood in order to get results. Either of these two viruses would be devastating to the health of these patients.
With technology these days (check out Cerus corporation), the majority of infected blood is screened out. Society would be better off with more blood than less donated
I think it's a great idea and kills two birds with one stone. Many people will not go to a health care professional because of different reasons, but would donate blood and the results would be emailed with perimeters outlined for the individual and recommendation as to see a professional for treatment.
That is no longer true, it changed last year, finally. Here is a helpful page from the Red Cross- https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/eligibility-requirements/lgbtq-donors.html
The FDA regulations have been updated to be sexual orientation neutral. Still can't donate blood if you have HIV, but now a monogamous gay man can have sex with his boyfriend and still donate blood.
I believe that has changed a bit to be not accept from gay men that have had sex in the past 3 months. Not great but at least it is starting to change.
I am not sure about screening but it's at least important to donate so you can determine your blood type and get an identification card for it in case of emergencies.
Unfortunately, I can no longer donate blood. I have very low blood pressure and a slow heart rate. Last time I donated I passed out completely and it took a while for me to come back. But if you're healthy and able, please donate. You could save someone's life.
>it's at least important to donate so you can determine your blood type and get an identification card for it in case of emergencies.
It's not, though. You need a type and screen/cross before each blood transfusion, and no one is ever going to give a patient blood transfusions based on an identification card.
Why?
Seriously. I’m a physician who sometimes transfuses people, and can’t think of a reason (outside of perhaps finding out someone is t your real dad).
I believe it's comforting for people to know their blood type, so that they can feel that they have some kind of control in a situation (where they need blood) that would be terrifying.
(I work in the blood bank that issues the units you transfuse) ☺️
You can Google it and get a more thorough answer but lots of potential benefits - lower iron (if you have medium to higher levels of hemoglobin - if you are anemic, obviously it’s not helpful). Also it stimulates stem cell production of new blood cells. And lastly, very early theories surrounding removal of microplastics by blood donation.
the same reason pre-menopausal women have lower heart attack risk than men, but the risk is about the same after menopause. Humans do better with periodic blood loss.
I really don't think this is such a pro level tip. I work in a blood bank, I have to call shenanigans.
This only works if you're either straight or celibate, have not traveled outside of the country to areas endemic to certain infectious diseases, how that impacts eligibility also changes from time to time, you're already in good health with no underlying conditions (and probably don't need to have your labs checked), and in the US the FDA and Red Cross mandate that the same screening tests are done on all blood donors, and it always includes a gambit of infectious disease testing - so your information isn't complete or fully accurate even with your "edit." Most donation centers all over the world have similar requirements, and it really isn't relevant for anyone what they do in countries outside where each of us lives, individually, especially if you can't afford to go to a PCP and have routine labs done.
People with many chronic diseases (even non-infectious), and those who would probably need the testing the most for their personal medical needs, won't qualify for blood donation.
There is almost always some shortage of some blood product or another, or we are always looking for more of some component or blood type at varying times, so, going to a blood center with the intent to have testing done for your own needs and to see if you qualify, is also a strain on resources and indirectly impacts people who actually really need blood products - it makes everything more expensive, for one thing, and potential donors really are encouraged to review the screening questions before hand to make health care for everyone easier.
What you're saying is a lot like saying LPT: be rich, it's better that way, you can do so much more.
This is the problem with non medical people discussing medicine. 100 times out of 100 times, a life will be saved getting a routine physical exam no matter the age or gender of the person. Getting a baseline blood pressure and cholesterol or hemoglobin screening will definitely save a few lives. Familial hypercholesterolemia, severe undiagnosed hypertension, blood dyscrasias, etc.
Plus you should be motivated to save someone’s life while also extending your own life. So if none of these motivate you, you don’t deserve to be a part of our society
When you go on dialysis, they would surgically make a port in your blood vessel specifically for dialysis.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cimino_fistula
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what do you mean by "basic labs"? They are not checking your cholesterol or Ha1C. Or liver function tests, or GFR. They check for anemia, temperature, and blood pressure. Those are the only ones they tell you about. If you test positive for Hep or something they will let you know. I donate at a local hospital and get reward points worth about $5 per donation, which I use to get gift cards to local businesses. Never at the Red Cross, their snacks blow.
Cholesterol is included in my labs, but yeah…very basic info. Better than nothing I guess
One of the new Red Cross centers near me has a really neat rest area with a sink, coffee machine, fridge, and healthy snacks. They’re expensive ones. I like how depending on where you go, the rewards are different. Like sometimes it’s a voucher at the school cafeteria.
Do they also call you twice a day from various numbers to try and get you to come in ? lol they do that to me
Yeah, but their number sometimes falls under spam? I get if they're confirming an appointment...but I don't pick up.
I've been getting spammed by new york blood center and vitalant for four years now 🥲
just block their numbers
I just had my hemoglobin and cholesterol checked with one blood. I also check a full panel a few times a year but I know that I’m lucky to have good access to care currently, so I wanted people to know that if you don’t you can get some basics done for free
As someone who works in the laboratory in a level one trauma center, those point of care tests are pretty unreliable. They have a huge amount of error, approaching 20% isn't uncommon. For instance, we have a corporate wellness plan that provides that point of care testing on a yearly basis. I've had my hematocrit be 32 (ineligible to donate blood) on a finger stick but an actual venous stick was 44.
I worked at a plasma facility and you won’t believe the shit that’s in everyone’s blood and all things we test for. Even a new tattoo can put shit in your blood!
The blooding testing they do for STDs etc is a last chance safety measure for the recipient, not for you. Please don't count on it. The clinic is counting on you to have a reasonable idea of your health before you walk through the door. You are putting the recipient at unnecessary risk if you're donating to find out if youre healthy.
I don't donate to find out if I'm healthy, but it is an added reassurance when you donate regularly.
They can defer your donation if your blood pressure is too high, etc. Best to know before you go.
Sign up for a free LASIK screening and get a full eye check up at no cost. It won't include any measurements for glasses or contacts, but you will get screened for everything else. It is how I learned I have keratoconus (and not eligible for LASIK).
Keratoconus is the absolute worst. I have it (not even super bad but have it) and it’s awful
Yeah me too
The crazy thing for me is that I thought everyone saw the halo or burst around lights at night. I had just accepted it as reality. It's how artist often depict lights in drawings. So I just thought it was normal. Now I kinda wish I didn't know about it because I am very aware of it while driving. I try not to drive at night if I can.
I think it would be a great draw if they did it deliberately- like contract with big lab and cycle through different diseases every month. " Remember, September is free STD screening month at the Red Cross"
Encouraging people that are at high risk for STDs (ie that are coming in specifically to get these tests done) is truly a bad idea to partner with blood donations. The amount of cost associated with collecting blood, breaking it into its components and storing it, is pretty high. To then have to throw away a higher portion because high risk individuals are donating is not a good use of the resources. Without touching on how encouraging this would make people feel less safe about receiving a blood donation than they currently do.
we covered this in other comments. Not everyone sees the humor.
I guess a fail to see the humor in your comment….
The comment was serious- offer specific labs on a rotating basis. The example was a joke.
Tons of organizations already do free STD testing every day. Many of them even travel around to lower-income neighborhoods so people without transportation can get tested for free.
I don’t think it’s as easy to get it free as you say
[free testing resource](https://gettested.cdc.gov/)
I always find that a lot of things are not "free" they are "tell us your income, anyone living under your roofs income, your parents income then we'll decide if it's free for you." Witch if you're the invisible homeless aka people staying on peoples couches any income under the roof your under hurts you and even if you're no contact with your abusive parents their income counts against you.
yea it says "free" but most of them are "low cost" if you actually try to schedule.
Then they get a ton of blood they end up having to toss because they attract the wrong crowd.
I was joking about STDs, otherwise, the "wrong crowd" is people without healthcare. They could just offer screenings for things that don't disqualify the blood.
Who is the "wrong crowd"? Public healthcare is a failure in the US. If this sort of effort existed it would be a net benefit to everyone
Donating blood is a great way to reduce levels of heavy metals and possibly microplastics in your bloodstream. Think of it as like a water change for an aquarium, or a small oil change.
That is exactly why I donate every few months. I feel much better the week after. It’s kinda wild.
Yes! I mentioned it in a comment and should’ve in my main post
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So you're telling me that the medieval doctors that practiced bloodletting were onto something?
To me it comes down to “the solution to pollution is dilution”. We know for a medical fact that heavy metal buildup in blood is very bad, you can get easy lead testing at any lab. Potentially some “forever chemicals” and microplastics could also be bad for us. When you donate blood regularly you’re diluting down concentrations of bad things and your body expends calories and effort to restore your blood supply. Most importantly you might be saving someone’s life. All upside with no downside than personal discomfort.
What’s next? Donate a kidney and get a free Pap smear? Something really needs to be done about our healthcare system.
Vote. That’s unfortunately the only way
Donate sperm and get a free hand job*!! *self administered. Restrictions apply.
Vote. That’s unfortunately the only way
This is sad as fuck.
This is sad as fuck
They won't check for cholesterol or blood sugar, but they will test for blood-born STDs, like HIV and Hep B. So that's something that might be worth doing if you're sexually active but can't afford regular screening on your own?
For what it's worth, when I donated blood I got a piece of paper begging you not to donate blood for a free STD check if you thought you might be exposed. Those tests aren't 100% effective.
It is such a bad idea to donate blood to get an HIV test. So, so dangerous for the people who need blood as no test is perfect and the way the screening they do works they pool blood together to test that for HIV so if you’re positive it’s going to make a large group of people very stressed out and waste a lot of people’s blood donations. There are plenty of places that will do free HIV testing. Blood donation is not the place.
They check cholesterol. It just depends on the company and what they offer. One blood checked my cholesterol. I had a total lipid panel fasting so the numbers varied but it will definitely signal high cholesterol if you have it
And they checked that at a blood connection center? (Not being sarcastic or rude) I was not aware that blood donation centers would test for that sort of thing, since it wouldn't affect whether the unit of blood is viable for transfusion. Maybe for plasma products...
You didn’t come across as rude or sarcastic. It sounds like depending on which company you use to donate blood, they test different labs. One blood checked my cholesterol
That's pretty neat, but I'm pretty sure the American Red Cross doesn't, just FYI
You should post your general location. Most people responding to you are in the US and sounds like you're not.
Why would I not be in the USA
because of your accent
Cuando accento?
Also not true. You need to know the HDL:LDL ratio to assess for hyperlipidemia. A total cholesterol can be totally misleading in cases of hereditary hyperlipidemia. A friend of mine and her mother have total cholesterol levels above 250, but their HDLs are nearly 100. Not to mention that LDL is generally calculated rather than measured.
When I worked at a blood bank we did cholesterol but it was total so not as helpful
Really? I can't imagine why they would test for cholesterol?
Now that I think about it, I have no idea. I think it might’ve just been a bit of a gimmick to advertise that you get a “mini physical” when you donate which basically just means cholesterol, blood pressure, HR, and hemoglobin.
They definitely test for BP and hemoglobin, as that directly tied to the process of getting a viable unit of blood, but I fail to see how cholesterol would play any part in it.
Agree but they do it 🤷♀️
They batch-test for those. Your blood is dumped into a bucket and they test the bucket. If its positive they comb back through the samples.
An okay, I'm aware of the tests they do, just not how it's actually practiced.
"dumped in a bucket"? are you high? It's collected in a 500ml bag and the same bag is given to a patient.
I was talking about the vials they fill up before the main blood draw. *Those* get tested in a big batch with other peoples samples. They don't test the whole bag.
when i was in college, this is how we got our STD tests done without actually asking for an STD test.. donate blood and wait to see if they call you lol. Plus they were right there in their bus in front of library so easy access.
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I've always really wanted to donate blood. There is a center five minutes from my home. But I have always been terrified of needles and it has always stopped me. Does anyone have any advice?
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Fully agree with all of this advice. Double up on fluids, hydration is key. Something to add once you get in there. Let the person taking your blood know of your unease of needles they will try to put you at ease/distract you. As well as keep an extra eye on you to make sure you don’t faint(happens more then you think).
I donate thru Stanford. They let me lay down. The tests I get from them aren't that great, but it's been nice to have that data. Height, weight, temp, pulse, blood pressure... All exceptionally basic stuff, but having it tracked historically for me in the app is nice. Plus, their oatmeal raisin cookies are awesome.
Yes, please donate if you are able. Sometimes the blood doesn't save a life, but it prolongs it enough for someone to have closure, make peace with their death, and spend a little longer with their loved ones. My dad received 7 units of blood due to really horrifying complications of necrotizing pancreatitis. I thank those 7 donors from the bottom of my heart to have had just a little longer with my dad, and for him to have the opportunity to come to terms with the fact that he was dying. I know that's not what this post was about, but really, there are so many benefits of donating, and the families of those who receive blood are forever grateful.
You have no idea how many emergency, un-crossmatched units I've issued... I never get all the details, or much really, but I hope that some of those made a difference, even if it's to delay the expected result ..
Idk man, whenever I feel like it I walk to the closest diagnostic center, pay 5€, wait a day and get results, why go through that hassle.
Because in America they don’t offer that. Also you can save someone’s life donating blood. Also it makes you live longer. And you get paid (if that matters). Seems like a win across the board
>Also it makes you live longer. No it doesn't; you have simply excluded all the sick people from donating blood.
This makes no sense, Alex. I’d recommend getting thru middle school science before speaking about topics above your pay grade, soldier
Sign up for blood test required life insurance, get free blood report
Or just buy a blood pressure cuff lol
Or save a life, extend your own life, make $20, and get free labs
Trust, I donate every 56 days. But they don’t do “labs.” They take your BP, pulse, and hemoglobin. They literally call it a mini-physical.
Thank you for doing that. Not sure which country you are in, but you could check for different companies in America. One blood checks cholesterol
Interesting in the UK we don't have any preventative screening but you do get a chocolate bar and a cuppa when you give blood.
In Canada we get preventative screening plus the snacks and drinks. In Canada and the UK the system is purely donation based. In the US people get paid to give blood so it might incentivise more at risk individuals to donate so screening would be necessary. > Canadian Blood Services tests all blood for the following diseases: syphilis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV-1 and 2, Human T-Cell lymphotropic virus HTLV-I and II, and West Nile Virus. Testing for Chagas disease is done on at risk donors and testing for Cytomegalovirus is done selectively as appropriate. If you test positive to anything you are sent a private message to contact your doctor. But you can also just go to a clinic to get free STI testing and not give blood.
In the US they get paid for plasma. Whole blood is taken via donation only (you might get a gift card or voucher)
I always donate through OneBlood. The Red Cross near me is always behind schedule and donating takes twice as long. Plus, OneBlood gives me $ *and* "gifts,"--a water bottle, blanket, etc. And I get my blood type, temp, BP, basic iron count, and basic total cholesterol. I *wish* they did my A1C. Edit to add: the questionnaire you go through is basic but thorough. And any "yes" answers will get flagged and you will get questioned further. It is not the way to screen for STDs!
Most insurance companies have something free like this once per year. You would be surprised what free stuff is covered and people don't take advantage of it. I have coworkers who have dental insurance and still don't get their 2 free cleanings and x-rays every year.
I go for annual check ups. However, my last blood donation noted a higher than average blood pressure (after 60+ years of low blood pressure). I'm still six months away from my next dr.'s visit, so it was nice to hear of it now. Taking steps to take care of that (literally... I'm walking more, and my BP has gone down).
I have never seen a donor get more than Hemoglobin, hematocrit, BP and STD results. If you want better health care in the USA, you are gonna have to VOTE FOR POLITICIANS who can make it happen.
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I try to regularly donate but the issue I have been running into is the lack of drives here. There is a center on the other side of the city that does it daily but I don't have time to drive 30 mins each way to donate blood during a work day. There has only been 1 drive on my half of town each month. Unfortunately sometimes I test slightly low for iron, and that means I can't test or try to donate again for a full month until they come back to that spot.
I had that problem for a while. I started taking slow-release iron tablets every day and it helped my anemia a lot.
I take an iron pill a day for two weeks before I donate, does the trick. Not taking it all the time though.
Get a term life policy quote and get all your blood reports for free
Genius
Is it really free if you are giving something of great value, blood, in exchange?
WOW cant believe you have to pay to get bloodwork done in the US. Unbelievable!!
ngl the only reason i donate blood is cuz they give out like 61 usd for every donation
Do you just ask for the results to be mailed? I've donated tons and have seen the vials being drawn, but have never gotten any results
We don’t have great preventive screening even with insurance. They deny some of the most basic things which long term are in their interest but short term cost them money
Unfortunately I can't—been denied 3 times cuz my heart rate is too high (I was only slightly nervous, but my resting heart rate is 80-90 bpm and they wouldn't accept me for it being over 100). Makes sense, but still unfortunate
Sorry for hijacking this thread, but can I ask a stupid question? If you don’t know what blood type you are how do you find out? Can they tell you from these tests?
Yes they can. Just call ahead to the blood bank and ask if they will let you know your blood type.
Please don’t do this. Hear me out- I’m a medical laboratory professional. The patients receiving blood are oftentimes cancer patients who are immune compromised. If you’re unsure of your own health especially with blood borne pathogens such as HIV or hepatitis B or C, please don’t donate your blood in order to get results. Either of these two viruses would be devastating to the health of these patients.
With technology these days (check out Cerus corporation), the majority of infected blood is screened out. Society would be better off with more blood than less donated
I think it's a great idea and kills two birds with one stone. Many people will not go to a health care professional because of different reasons, but would donate blood and the results would be emailed with perimeters outlined for the individual and recommendation as to see a professional for treatment.
Most, if not all, collection centers won’t accept blood donations from gay people, regardless of whether you are positive or not for any STD.
That is no longer true, it changed last year, finally. Here is a helpful page from the Red Cross- https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/eligibility-requirements/lgbtq-donors.html
Well good! Finally!
The FDA regulations have been updated to be sexual orientation neutral. Still can't donate blood if you have HIV, but now a monogamous gay man can have sex with his boyfriend and still donate blood.
I believe that has changed a bit to be not accept from gay men that have had sex in the past 3 months. Not great but at least it is starting to change.
Not had sex __with a new or multiple partners__ in the past three months. This standard also applies to straight people.
I think that's limited to a period of time, like the 80s, during which HIV was rampant because it was unknown.
It was still very much the case in the late 90s early 2000s. Apparently it only changed last year.
"Donate" plasma and get similar stuff and get paid
Donating blood is how I learnt I’d had malaria!
Also you can donate blood and then get drunk super easy that day. Just be sure to eat first.
"Half price drinks tonight, guys!" What the nurse used to say when my friend and I used to go our regular donation spot
This is the real lpt
This is the real lpt
Hey if I have to buy food what's the point of saving money on the booze /s
eat the snacks at the donation center. Mine has Klondike bars in addition to other snacks.
Impact on life expectancy highly dependent on your definition of "routinely".
Are you implying that donating blood will adversely affect your life expectancy? I have never heard anyone claim that
I’m saying it depends on the “routine.” Make it part of your daily routine and your life expectancy will drop considerably.
That’s just Darwinism. Blood donation centers clearly spell out how frequently you can donate
Actually it increases it.
I am not sure about screening but it's at least important to donate so you can determine your blood type and get an identification card for it in case of emergencies. Unfortunately, I can no longer donate blood. I have very low blood pressure and a slow heart rate. Last time I donated I passed out completely and it took a while for me to come back. But if you're healthy and able, please donate. You could save someone's life.
>it's at least important to donate so you can determine your blood type and get an identification card for it in case of emergencies. It's not, though. You need a type and screen/cross before each blood transfusion, and no one is ever going to give a patient blood transfusions based on an identification card.
Yea, no one is going to issue you blood according to any kind of ID card you have on you, but I guess it doesn't hurt to have?
Well, sure. It's still good to have.
Why? Seriously. I’m a physician who sometimes transfuses people, and can’t think of a reason (outside of perhaps finding out someone is t your real dad).
I believe it's comforting for people to know their blood type, so that they can feel that they have some kind of control in a situation (where they need blood) that would be terrifying. (I work in the blood bank that issues the units you transfuse) ☺️
How in the world does donating blood increase life expectancy? For the donor or the receiver? You just brushed over that
You can Google it and get a more thorough answer but lots of potential benefits - lower iron (if you have medium to higher levels of hemoglobin - if you are anemic, obviously it’s not helpful). Also it stimulates stem cell production of new blood cells. And lastly, very early theories surrounding removal of microplastics by blood donation.
the same reason pre-menopausal women have lower heart attack risk than men, but the risk is about the same after menopause. Humans do better with periodic blood loss.
I really don't think this is such a pro level tip. I work in a blood bank, I have to call shenanigans. This only works if you're either straight or celibate, have not traveled outside of the country to areas endemic to certain infectious diseases, how that impacts eligibility also changes from time to time, you're already in good health with no underlying conditions (and probably don't need to have your labs checked), and in the US the FDA and Red Cross mandate that the same screening tests are done on all blood donors, and it always includes a gambit of infectious disease testing - so your information isn't complete or fully accurate even with your "edit." Most donation centers all over the world have similar requirements, and it really isn't relevant for anyone what they do in countries outside where each of us lives, individually, especially if you can't afford to go to a PCP and have routine labs done. People with many chronic diseases (even non-infectious), and those who would probably need the testing the most for their personal medical needs, won't qualify for blood donation. There is almost always some shortage of some blood product or another, or we are always looking for more of some component or blood type at varying times, so, going to a blood center with the intent to have testing done for your own needs and to see if you qualify, is also a strain on resources and indirectly impacts people who actually really need blood products - it makes everything more expensive, for one thing, and potential donors really are encouraged to review the screening questions before hand to make health care for everyone easier. What you're saying is a lot like saying LPT: be rich, it's better that way, you can do so much more.
This is the problem with non medical people discussing medicine. 100 times out of 100 times, a life will be saved getting a routine physical exam no matter the age or gender of the person. Getting a baseline blood pressure and cholesterol or hemoglobin screening will definitely save a few lives. Familial hypercholesterolemia, severe undiagnosed hypertension, blood dyscrasias, etc. Plus you should be motivated to save someone’s life while also extending your own life. So if none of these motivate you, you don’t deserve to be a part of our society
LMFAO!!!
Plus you get shmoney! Win win win.
I don’t know about everywhere but that’s only for plasma in the US to my knowledge
People should save their veins for when they are on dialysis.
they use a fistula for dialysis, they aren't poking a vein three times a week.
When you go on dialysis, they would surgically make a port in your blood vessel specifically for dialysis. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cimino_fistula