who you can donate blood to

by Lydia Wiegand 8 min read

People who are A-positive can donate blood both to their own blood group and to people who are AB-positive. This is because they share the same type of proteins, so the body won’t attack the new cells, as it recognizes them as its own. In the event of a transfusion, people with A+ can receive blood from groups A and 0.

What are the major blood types?
If your blood type is:You can give to:You can receive from:
O PositiveO+, A+, B+, AB+O+, O-
A PositiveA+, AB+A+, A-, O+, O-
B PositiveB+, AB+B+, B-, O+, O-
AB PositiveAB+ OnlyAll Blood Types
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Full Answer

What are the reasons why a person cannot donate blood?

If you have recently had a tattoo or body piercing you cannot donate for 6 months from the date of the procedure. If the body piercing was performed by a registered health professional and any inflammation has settled completely, you can donate blood after 12 hours. If you have visited the dentist for a minor procedure you must wait 24 hours ...

Who is really helping the who?

You must be at least 17 years old to donate to the general blood supply, or 16 years old with parental/guardian consent, if allowed by state law. There is no upper age limit for blood donation as long as you are well with no restrictions or limitations to your activities. In-Depth Discussion of Age and Blood Donation.

Who is not allowed to donate blood?

Mar 10, 2022 · Find a blood donation place by searching online for “blood donation near me” or use an online locator from the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies. If you’re a member of the military, you can start your donation today through the U.S. Department of Defense’s Armed Services Blood Program, the official military provider of blood products to …

What conditions disqualify you from donating blood?

Jan 14, 2022 · Who can donate blood? According to the American Red Cross, you can donate blood under the following circumstances: You are not feeling sick and are in good health. You are 17 years of age. In some states, you can donate blood if you are 16 years old and have parental consent. You weigh at least 110 lbs.

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Can blood can be donated to anybody?

Group O can donate red blood cells to anybody. It's the universal donor.

Who can donate blood to which group?

Not all blood donations are the same, and often times we have an increased need for one type over the other....What are the different types of blood?Your blood typeYou can give blood to:You can receive blood from:A+A+ AB+A+ A- O+ O-O+O+ A+ B+ AB+O+ O-B+B+ AB+B+ B- O+ O-AB+AB+Everyone4 more rows

Who Cannot donate blood?

HIV infection, AIDS or Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) High risk occupation (e.g. prostitution) Unexplained weight loss of more than 5 kg over 6 months. Chronic alcoholism.

Is O+ or O universal donor?

Although the blood type O+ can donate blood to all positive blood types (A+, B+, AB+, and O+), it is not a universal donor. Blood type O- is the universal blood donor, meaning that people with this blood type can donate blood to all other types with a lower risk of causing serious reactions.Jan 20, 2022

Can family members donate blood to each other?

Directed donation (for a family member or friend) The donor must meet the same requirements as for regular blood donation, and the donor's blood must match the blood type of the recipient.Apr 7, 2017

What kind of blood donation is most needed?

A+ is a common blood type which makes it the most needed blood for transfusions, so you may be asked to donate whole blood. Whole blood donors are eligible to give blood every 8 weeks. Platelets are another way to maximize your donation as an A+ blood type.

Can you donate blood if you have high blood pressure?

Yes, you can donate blood if you have high blood pressure as long as your blood pressure is managed with medication. Can you donate blood if you are on medication? You can donate if you take medicine for high cholesterol. Anti-depressant medicine and heart medication are also acceptable.

Is donating blood good for you?

A healthier heart and vascular system Regular blood donation is linked to lower blood pressure and a lower risk for heart attacks. “It definitely helps to reduce cardiovascular risk factors,” says DeSimone.Jan 24, 2022

What medications can keep you from donating blood?

The following medications will prevent you from donating blood:Accutane.Antibiotics *Donors who are taking antibiotics are eligible to donate 24 hours after their last dose.Anti-Platelet Medications.Avodart.Blood thinners (such as Coumadin, Heparin, Lovenox, Warfarin)Bovine insulin.Hepatitis B Immune Globulin.More items...

Why is O negative so rare?

Only 7% of the population have O negative blood. Due to the its versatility for transfusions, it is in high demand. In an emergency, it is the blood product of choice. For example, just one car accident victim can require up to 100 units of O neg.

What is the golden blood type?

Rh null blood groupThe golden blood type or Rh null blood group contains no Rh antigens (proteins) on the red blood cells (RBCs). This is the rarest blood group in the world, with less than 50 individuals having this blood group.

Who can O+ blood donate to?

What are the major blood types?If your blood type is:You can give to:You can receive from:O PositiveO+, A+, B+, AB+O+, O-A PositiveA+, AB+A+, A-, O+, O-B PositiveB+, AB+B+, B-, O+, O-AB PositiveAB+ OnlyAll Blood Types4 more rows

How to contact the Red Cross for blood donation?

Individuals with questions about their donation eligibility can contact the Red Cross Donor and Client Support Center at 1-866-236-3276. For the purposes of blood donation gender is self-identified and self-reported, which is relevant to the transgender community.

What is the age limit for blood donation?

There is no upper age limit for blood donation as long as you are well with no restrictions or limitations to your activities. In-Depth Discussion of Age and Blood Donation. Those younger than age 17 are almost always legal minors (not yet of the age of majority) who cannot give consent by themselves to donate blood.

How long after taking aspirin can you donate blood?

Aspirin. Aspirin, no waiting period for donating whole blood. However, you must wait 2 full days after taking aspirin or any medication containing aspirin before donating platelets by apheresis. For example, if you take aspirin products on Monday, the soonest you may donate platelets is Thursday.

How long after blood transfusion can you donate?

Blood Transfusion. Wait for 3 months after receiving a blood transfusion from another person in the United States. You may not donate if you received a blood transfusion since 1980 in France, Ireland, England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Gibraltar or Falkland Islands.

Does the Red Cross accept hemochromatosis?

American Red Cross does not accept individuals with hemochromatosis as blood donors. Learn more about Hematocrit here. Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, Blood Count. In order to donate blood, a woman must have a hemoglobin level of at least 12.5 g/dL, and a man must have a hemoglobin level of at least 13.0 g/dL.

How long do you have to wait to donate blood?

Wait at least 8 weeks between whole blood (standard) donations. Wait at least 7 days between platelet (pheresis) donations . Wait at least 16 weeks between Power Red (automated) donations. First-time male donors may be eligible to donate blood if they have not had sex with another man in more than 3 months.

How is blood volume determined?

Blood volume is determined by body weight and height. Individuals with low blood volumes may not tolerate the removal of the required volume of blood given with whole blood donation. There is no upper weight limit as long as your weight is not higher than the weight limit of the donor bed/lounge you are using.

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Age

  • You are aged between 18 and 65. 1. In some countries national legislation permits 16–17 year-olds to donate provided that they fulfil the physical and hematological criteria required and that appropriate consent is obtained. 2. In some countries, regular donors over the age of 65 may be accepted at the discretion of the responsible physician. The upper age limit in some countries ar…
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Weight

  • You weigh at least 50 kg. 1. In some countries, donors of whole blood donations should weigh at least 45 kg to donate 350 ml ± 10%.
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Health

  • You must be in good health at the time you donate. You cannot donate if you have a cold, flu, sore throat, cold sore, stomach bug or any other infection. If you have recently had a tattoo or body piercing you cannot donate for 6 months from the date of the procedure. If the body piercing was performed by a registered health professional and any inflammation has settled completely, yo…
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Travel

  • Travel to areas where mosquito-borne infections are endemic, e.g. malaria, dengue and Zika virus infections, may result in a temporary deferral. Many countries also implemented the policy to defer blood donors with a history of travel or residence for defined cumulative exposure periods in specified countries or areas, as a measure to reduce the risk of transmitting variant Creutzfeldt-…
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Behaviours

  • You must not give blood: 1. If you engaged in “at risk” sexual activity in the past 12 months 2. Individuals with behaviours below will be deferred permanently: 3. Have ever had a positive test for HIV (AIDS virus) 4. Have ever injected recreational drugs. In the national blood donor selection guidelines, there are more behavior eligibility criteria. Criteria could be different in different coun…
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Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

  • Following pregnancy, the deferral period should last as many months as the duration of the pregnancy. It is not advisable to donate blood while breast-feeding. Following childbirth, the deferral period is at least 9 months (as for pregnancy) and until 3 months after your baby is significantly weaned (i.e. getting most of his/her nutrition from solids or bottle feeding).
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More Information on Eligibility to Donate

  • National eligibility guidelines must be followed when people donate blood in the blood service in specific countries. To find out whether any health conditions, medications, professions or travel history to could affect your ability to give blood, please search for detailed information in the national/local blood services.
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