HEALTH NEWS FROM SCHOOL NURSE: Blood Donation Qualifications at M.D.
Anderson Cancer Center Blood Bank and Questions to test your BLOOD IQ
Website for M.D. Anderson Blood Bank: www.mdanderson.org / bloodbank
Phone Number to call with concerns or questions: 713-792-7777
M.D. Anderson Blood Drive at TWHS
Date: Thursday, February 8th, 2007
Time: 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Place: TWHS – Front Lobby
Prizes: Community Service – Giving the Gift of Life
T-Shirts, other goodies, refreshments (Sprite and cookies)
MINIMAL DONAR QUALIFICATIONS:
DIET: EAT BREAKFAST – A substantial meal one to four hours prior to donating
is preferable (Oatmeal, Cereal and milk, juice, fruit, eggs, sausage, bacon, toast).
HYDRATION – Drink at least 12 oz. prior to blood donation. A unit of blood
is about 450 cc’s – one pint – 2 cups. 7-10% of your body weight is blood.
If your weight is 120 pounds, your body contains 8-10 pints of blood.
AGE: Minimum of 17 years of age. No upper age limit.
WEIGHT: Minimum of 110 pounds.
IDENTIFICATION REQUIRED: Valid picture I.D. and you must know your Social
Security Number.
HOW OFTEN CAN YOU DONATE BLOOD:
Whole Blood every 56 days (8 weeks)
Platelets and Red Blood Cells that are donated at the same time every 56 days (8 weeks)
Platelets every 48 hours, only twice a week, up to 24 times in one year
ASTHMA: Can donate blood if no major asthmatic episode/attack within the last week.
It is best to have your inhaler with you at time of donation.
DIABETES: Can donate blood if your blood glucose levels are under control.
It is best to check your blood glucose level prior to donation.
MEDICATIONS:
ANTIBIOTICS – None within 72 hours (3 days) of donation.
Accutane – often prescribed for acne – None within last month.
Aspirin – None within the past 48 hours.
If you are taking any medications, you will need to know the
name of the medication and inform M.D. Anderson staff.
BODY PIERCING AND TATTOOS: None within past 2 weeks IF procedure
was completed at a licensed professional facility utilizing sterile
technique; otherwise, can be up to a 12 month deferral.
MAJOR SURGERY: If feeling well and have no signs of infection, and did not have a
blood transfusion, skin or bone graph, there are no restrictions.
INVASIVE DENTAL WORK: None within 24 hours.
FEVER: You must have a temperature of 99.5 or less after one to two readings.
HEPATITIS: Anyone who has had hepatitis after the age of 11 years is NOT eligible to
donate blood.
SMALL MINI PHYSICAL PRIOR TO BLOOD DONATION:
M.D. Anderson staff member will evaluate temperature (must be 99.5 or less), blood
pressure (generally needs to be less than 145 systolic – top number, and 90 diastolic –
bottom number), pulse (normal rate is 60-100 beats per minute), and hemoglobin (iron
containing pigment of the red blood cells that carries oxygen) will be tested by drop of
blood – finger stick – needs to be 12.5 or higher.
DONOR HISTORY QUESTIONNAIRE: Needs to be completed prior to donation. A
staff member from M.D. Anderson will assist each donor in completing the questions.
Blood Donor Travel Guide – Information provided here can be used as a guide to help
you decide if you are eligible to donate. The FDA has directed that travel to or residing in
certain countries can make you unsuitable for donation. If you have questions, please call
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Blood Bank. Listed below are some of the requirements:
(Some of these requirements are related to “mad cow” disease which is Bovine
Spongiform Encephalopathy – BSE and some are related to “malaria areas”)
If a person or has spent 3 months or more between 1980 - 1996 in England,
Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of man, The Channel or Falkland
Islands it is a indefinite Deferral.
If a person has spent 5 years or more between 1980 & now in Europe it is an
indefinite deferral.
If a person has spent 6 months or more between 1977 and & now in Cameroon,
Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Niger, Nigeria
it is an indefinite deferral.
If a person has spent the last 12 months in Iraq donors must wait 1 year to give.
People who have visited a Malaria area must be back in the United States for 1 year
without contracting Malaria.
QUESTIONS TO TEST YOUR BLOOD I.Q.
An accident victim can require how much blood?
4 to 100 units of blood.
A kidney transplant usually requires how much blood?
2 units of blood
A liver transplant usually requires how much blood?
10 units of blood
10 units of platelets
A heart transplant usually requires how much blood?
4 to 6 units of blood
Sickle Cell Disease can periodically require how much blood to treat complications?
10 to 15 units of blood
Open heart surgery usually requires how much blood?
2 to 6 units of blood
1 to 10units of platelets
Cancer treatment usually requires how much blood?
2 to 6 units of blood
6 to 8 units of platelets daily for 2 to 4 weeks
Leukemia usually requires how much blood?
2 to 6 units of blood
6 to 8 units of platelets daily for 2 to 4 weeks
A bone marrow transplant usually requires how much blood?
1 to 2 units given every other day for 4 weeks
6 to 8 units of platelets daily for 4 to 6 weeks
Can just ONE pint of your blood help save the lives of several people?
Yes! The pint you donate is usually split into several parts to meet the needs of different
patients. For example, your platelets may give a child with leukemia a chance to live,
while your red cells may help an accident victim get well.
Can artificial or animal blood be used in place of human blood?
No! There is no substitute for human blood. People are the only source of blood. The gift
of blood truly is the gift of life.
Are most donors paid money for their blood?
No! Volunteers now provide virtually ALL of the Nation’s blood supply.