How Often can you Donate Blood

 

When a healthy person voluntarily donates blood, it is called blood donation. This blood is then used for transfusion to the needy. It may also be made into medications by a process known as fractionation. There are four types of blood donation namely, allogeneic, directed, replacement, and autologous. They have been explained below.

Types

» Allogeneic

Blood donation has been divided into groups which are based on who will receive the donated blood. One such group is allogeneic, also termed as homologous. In such a type, a donor gives blood for storage at a blood bank for transfusion to an unknown recipient.

» Directed

This type is the one in which a person donates blood for transfusion to a known or specific individual. In this type, the donor is usually a family member of the recipient.

» Replacement

There is another type of blood donation called replacement donor. It is a hybrid of the above two. It involves donation of blood by a friend or family member of the recipient to replace the stored blood used in transfusion. The purpose is to maintain a consistent supply of blood for transfusion.

» Autologous

This type involves transfusion of blood back to the donor, after the recipient has recovered from some medical issue like surgery.

Frequency

The frequency of blood donation differs by the blood component which you have donated.
If you have donated whole blood, you may go for the next appointment after 56 days.
If you are a double red cell donor, you may donate after 112 days.
If you have donated red cells and plasma, you will again be eligible for blood donation after 56 days, and 28 days respectively.
In the case of plasma, you may donate more frequently if you have donated it at a commercial plasma center.
In case you have donated platelets, you have to wait for every 2 - 3 days to a total of 24 times a year.

Eligibility

The blood donation requirements differ from country to country. However, there are some norms which are followed by most nations. The foremost requirement is that you should be in sound health. You should be at least 17 years of age. You should weigh 110 pounds at the minimum. You may have to undergo a certain set of physical examinations and blood tests. The result of these exams help the medical professional determine whether you are healthy enough for donation. You may also have to answer some of the questions put up by the professional. Your answers will help him prepare a health history review. Such a piece of information is important for determining your eligibility for blood donation.

You may not donate blood if you are pregnant, are traveling to certain parts of the world, are suffering from some medical condition, taking certain medications, and are taking some sort of vaccination as a measure for protecting yourself from some kind of infection or disease. These are only some of the conditions you need to fit in. As has been mentioned earlier, they may change from state to state. A medical professional can best tell you whether you are eligible to donate blood or not.