Q: Who may donate blood?

A: The most common eligibility requirements are that donors must be at least 17 years of age, weigh at least 100 pounds, and be in general good health. It must have been at least 56 days since your last whole blood donation. Elderly people may donate blood if they meet all donation criteria. There are some medical conditions that can keep you from giving blood. These requirements are set by federal, state and local health agencies.

Q: Is there anything special I need to do before my donation?

A: Be sure to eat at your regular mealtimes and drink plenty of fluids. You may want to take iron supplements a few days before you donate or be sure to eat foods rich in iron, since only blood with good iron levels will be accepted for donation. (As donors sign up, ask if they regularly eat a good breakfast. If yes, sign them up for the morning. If no, sign them up after lunch.)

Q: What will happen first?

A: You will be asked to provide some basic information such as your name, address, age, and social security number. A medical history will be taken and, using a finger-prick, a drop of your blood will be analyzed for hemoglobin content. Your pulse, blood pressure and temperature will also be checked.

Q: How long does the donation take and what happens?

A: The actual procedure is done by a skilled, specially trained technician and takes seven to ten minutes. You will give one unit, or a little less than one pint of blood.

Q: How long should I plan on spending at the donation?

A: After your donation, you'll be asked to rest in the donation area and enjoy some refreshments. From your registration to the end of your post-donation rest, you'll spend about an 1/2 hour.

Q: Does the needle hurt the entire time?

A: You may feel a pinch when the needle is inserted, but most people do not feel pain during the donation.

Q: How will I feel after the donation?

A: Most people feel absolutely fine (or even great, knowing that they just saved three lives), especially if they've eaten regular meals before the donation. Drinking lots of fluids for 48 hours after the donation will help alleviate any unexpected after-effects.

Q: How soon after donating can I play sports?

A: After you donate, you'll relax and have a snack. If you're feeling well, you can then resume full activity. It's recommended that you avoid heavy lifting, pushing or picking up heavy objects for at least four or five hours after giving blood.

Q: What happens to my blood after donating?

A: After donating, two types of testing occur on every unit of blood: 1) testing for your blood type and a presence of red cell antibody and 2) transfusion-transmitted disease testing that includes testing for hepatitis, HIV, HTLV, and syphilis. IRBB has its own state-of-the-art laboratory, which enables us to provide donated blood to our hospitals within 24 hours of the donation.

Q: Is it true I can get AIDS if I give blood?

A: NO. You cannot get AIDS or any other infectious disease by giving blood. The materials used during your donation, including the needle, are new, sterile, disposable, and only used one time - for your blood donation.