blood donation#Apheresis

{{See also|Blood bank#History}}

Charles Richard Drew (1904–1950) was an American surgeon and medical researcher. His research was in the field of blood transfusions, developing improved techniques for blood storage, and applied his expert knowledge to developing large-scale blood banks early in World War II. This allowed medics to save thousands of lives of the Allied forces. As the most prominent African American in the field, Drew protested against the practice of racial segregation in the donation of blood, as it lacked scientific foundation, and resigned his position with the American Red Cross, which maintained the policy until 1950.{{Cite web |last=Hussain |first=Dr Shabbir |date=2025-06-14 |title=What Happens to Your Body When You Donate Blood |url=https://physiotalkofficial.com/what-happens-to-your-body-when-you-donate-blood/ |access-date=2025-06-14 |website=Physio talk official |language=en-US}}

File:JRC Hyogo Blood Center bloodmobiles 2008-01-14.jpg) from Japanese Red Cross at Myōdani Station in Suma-ku, Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan]]

Blood donations are divided into groups based on who will receive the collected blood.M. E. Brecher, Editor (2005), AABB Technical Manual, 15th ed., Bethesda, MD: AABB, {{ISBN|1-56395-196-7}}, pp. 98–103 An allogeneic (also called homologous) donation is when a donor gives blood for storage at a blood bank for transfusion to an unknown recipient. A directed donation is when a person, often a family member, donates blood for transfusion to a specific individual.{{cite web|url=http://www.mayoclinic.org/donateblood/directed.html|title=Directed Donation|publisher=Mayo Clinic|access-date=2008-06-25 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080524004449/http://www.mayoclinic.org/donateblood/directed.html |archive-date = 2008-05-24}} Directed donations are relatively rare when an established supply exists.{{cite journal |vauthors=Wales PW, Lau W, Kim PC |title=Directed blood donation in pediatric general surgery: Is it worth it? |journal=J. Pediatr. Surg. |volume=36 |issue=5 |pages=722–725 |date=May 2001 |pmid=11329574 |doi=10.1053/jpsu.2001.22945 }} A replacement donor donation is a hybrid of the two and is common in developing countries.T. Brown "Strengthening Blood Systems In Africa: Progress Under PEPFAR and Remaining Challenges" AABB News. April 1998: p. 30 In this case, a friend or family member of the recipient donates blood to replace the stored blood used in a transfusion, ensuring a consistent supply. When a person has blood stored that will be transfused back to the donor at a later date, usually after surgery, that is called an autologous donation.{{cite web|url=http://www.aabb.org/Content/About_Blood/Facts_About_Blood_and_Blood_Banking/fabloodautoallo.htm|title=Autologous (self-donated) Blood as an Alternative to Allogeneic (donor-donated) Blood Transfusion|publisher=AABB|access-date=2008-06-25|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080612135452/http://www.aabb.org/Content/About_Blood/Facts_About_Blood_and_Blood_Banking/fabloodautoallo.htm|archive-date=2008-06-12}} Blood that is used to make medications can be made from allogeneic donations or from donations exclusively used for manufacturing.{{cite web|url=http://www.aabb.org/Content/Members_Area/Members_Area_Regulatory/Blood_Component_Preparation_and_Testing/plasbpac061302.htm|title=Recovered Plasma|publisher=AABB|access-date=2008-06-25|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080612060217/http://www.aabb.org/Content/Members_Area/Members_Area_Regulatory/Blood_Component_Preparation_and_Testing/plasbpac061302.htm|archive-date=2008-06-12}}

Sometimes there are specific reasons for preferring one form or the other. Allogeneic donations have a lower risk of some complications than blood from a family member.{{Cite journal |last1=Weaver |first1=Meaghann S. |last2=Yee |first2=Marianne E. M. |last3=Lawrence |first3=Courtney E. |last4=Fasano |first4=Ross M. |date=2023-04-01 |title=Requests for Directed Blood Donations |journal=Pediatrics |volume=151 |issue=4 |pages=e2022058183 |doi=10.1542/peds.2022-058183 |issn=0031-4005 |pmid=36897227|pmc=10998552 }} Neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia may require a transfusion from the mother's own platelets. Autologous (self) donations may be preferred for someone with a rare blood type for a planned surgery.

Blood is sometimes collected using similar methods for therapeutic phlebotomy, similar to the ancient practice of bloodletting, which is used to treat conditions such as hereditary hemochromatosis or polycythemia vera. This blood is sometimes treated as a blood donation, but may be immediately discarded if it cannot be used for transfusion or further manufacturing.{{Cite journal |last=Gribble |first=D. M. |last2=Chaffin |first2=D. J. |last3=Bryant |first3=B. J. |date=2009 |title=Cost-effectiveness of FDA variance for blood collection from individuals with hereditary hemochromatosis at a 398-bed hospital-based donor center |journal=Immunohematology |volume=25 |issue=4 |pages=170–173 |pmid=20406025}}

The actual process varies according to the laws of the country, and recommendations to donors vary according to the collecting organization.{{cite web| url=http://www.donateblood.com.au/page.aspx?IDDataTreeMenu=45&parent=31 | title=Giving Blood -> What to Expect | publisher=Australian Red Cross Blood Service| access-date=2007-10-06 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070829035341/http://donateblood.com.au/page.aspx?IDDataTreeMenu=45&parent=31 |archive-date = 2007-08-29}}{{cite web| url=http://www.bloodservices.ca/centreapps/internet/uw_v502_mainengine.nsf/page/The%20Donation%20Experience?OpenDocument| title=The Donation Experience| publisher=Canadian Blood Services| access-date=2006-12-17| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070203060915/http://www.bloodservices.ca/CentreApps/Internet/UW_V502_MainEngine.nsf/page/The%20Donation%20Experience?OpenDocument| archive-date=2007-02-03}}{{cite web| url=http://www.givelife2.org/donor/tips.asp| title=Tips for a Good Donation Experience| publisher=American Red Cross| access-date=2006-12-17| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061214131808/http://www.givelife2.org/donor/tips.asp| archive-date=2006-12-14}} The World Health Organization gives recommendations for blood donation policies,{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs279/en/|title=WHO Blood Safety and Donation|publisher=World Health Organization|access-date=2008-06-01|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080629085919/http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs279/en/|archive-date=2008-06-29}} but in developing countries many of these are not followed. For example, the recommended testing requires laboratory facilities, trained staff, and specialized reagents, all of which may not be available or too expensive in developing countries.{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2006/pr33/en/index.html|title=World Blood Donor Day 2006|publisher=World Health Organization|access-date=2008-06-26|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617183627/http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2006/pr33/en/index.html|archive-date=2008-06-17}}

File:Give Life - Donner la vie (37346943046).jpg

A blood drive or a blood donor session is an event in which donors come to donate allogeneic blood. These can occur at a blood bank, but they are often set up at a location in the community, such as a shopping center, workplace, school, or house of worship.{{cite web|url=http://www.givelife2.org/sponsor/|title=Sponsoring a Blood Drive|publisher=American Red Cross|access-date=2008-06-25|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080526101723/http://www.givelife2.org/sponsor/|archive-date=2008-05-26}}

Donors are typically required to give consent for the process, and meet a certain criteria such as weight and hemoglobin levels, and this requirement means minors cannot donate without permission from a parent or guardian.{{cite web|url=http://www.donateblood.com.au/admin%5Cfile%5Ccontent1%5Cc5%5Cwaconsent%20.pdf|title=Parental consent form|publisher=Australian Red Cross Blood Service|access-date=2008-06-01|archive-date=2008-06-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080625001730/http://www.donateblood.com.au/admin%5Cfile%5Ccontent1%5Cc5%5Cwaconsent%20.pdf|url-status=live}} In some countries, answers are associated with the donor's blood, but not name, to provide anonymity; in others, such as the United States, names are kept to create lists of ineligible donors.{{cite web|url=http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=610.41|title=FDA regulations on donor deferral|access-date=2008-06-01|publisher=US Food and Drug Administration|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514040725/http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=610.41|archive-date=2008-05-14}} If a potential donor does not meet these criteria, they are 'deferred'. This term is used because many donors who are ineligible may be allowed to donate later. Blood banks in the United States may be required to label the blood if it is from a therapeutic donor, so some do not accept donations from donors with any blood disease.{{cite web | title =Variances for Blood Collection from Individuals with Hereditary Hemochromatosis | publisher=US Food and Drug Administration | url=https://www.fda.gov/cber/gdlns/hemchrom.htm | access-date=2007-07-18 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070708113601/https://www.fda.gov/cber/gdlns/hemchrom.htm |archive-date = 2007-07-08}} Others, such as the Australian Red Cross Blood Service, accept blood from donors with hemochromatosis. It is a genetic disorder that does not affect the safety of the blood.{{cite web|title=Hereditary Hemochromatosis: Perspectives of Public Health, Medical Genetics, and Primary Care|url=https://www.cdc.gov/genomics/training/perspectives/other/hfe.htm|access-date=2008-06-03|publisher=CDC Office of Public Health Genomics |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080308024528/http://www.cdc.gov/genomics/training/perspectives/other/hfe.htm |archive-date = 2008-03-08}}

The donor's race or ethnic background is sometimes important since certain blood types, especially rare ones, are more common in certain ethnic groups.{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CEEDC123DF930A25752C0A966958260|title=Donors' Races to Be Sought To Identify Rare Blood Types|work=The New York Times|access-date=2008-06-01|first=Richard|last=Severo|date=1990-01-13|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303124002/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CEEDC123DF930A25752C0A966958260|archive-date=2009-03-03}} Historically, in the United States donors were segregated or excluded on race, religion, or ethnicity, but this is no longer a standard practice.{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/wnet/redgold/innovators/bio_drew.html|title=Red Gold, Innovators and Pioneers|publisher=Public Broadcasting Service (United States)|access-date=2008-06-01|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517052129/http://www.pbs.org/wnet/redgold/innovators/bio_drew.html|archive-date=2008-05-17}}{{cite web|url=https://ncse.com/blog/2015/08/how-science-students-helped-end-segregated-blood-banks-0016561|title=How Science Students Helped End Segregated Blood Banks|publisher=National Center For Science Education (United States)|access-date=2017-11-05|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107022856/https://ncse.com/blog/2015/08/how-science-students-helped-end-segregated-blood-banks-0016561|archive-date=2017-11-07|date=2015-08-05}}

File:Map_of_blood_donation_policies_for_men_who_have_sex_with_men.svg

{{legend|#9F9| – Men who have sex with men may donate blood; No deferral}}

{{legend|#FFB| – Men who have sex with men may donate blood; Temporary deferral}}

{{legend|#F99| – Men who have sex with men may not donate blood; Permanent deferral}}

{{legend|#C0C0C0| – No Data}} ]]

File:Map_of_blood_donation_policies_for_female_sex_partners_of_men_who_have_sex_with_men.svg

{{legend|#9F9| – Female sex partners of men who have sex with men may donate blood; No deferral}}

{{legend|#FFB| – Female sex partners of men who have sex with men may donate blood; Temporary deferral}}

{{legend|#F99| – Female sex partners of men who have sex with men may not donate blood; Permanent deferral}}

{{legend|#C0C0C0| – No Data}}]]

Donors are screened for health risks that could make the donation unsafe for the recipient. Some of these restrictions are controversial, such as restricting donations from men who have sex with men (MSM) because of the risk of transmitting HIV.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/24/washington/24blood.html|title=Drug Agency Reaffirms Ban on Gay Men Giving Blood|work=The New York Times|access-date=2009-03-26|date=2007-05-24|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524225849/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/24/washington/24blood.html?_r=2&oref=slogin|archive-date=2013-05-24}} In 2011, the UK (excluding Northern Ireland) reduced its blanket ban on MSM donors to a narrower restriction which only prevents MSM from donating blood if they have had sex with other men within the past year.{{cite web|url=http://www.nat.org.uk/News-and-Media/Press-Releases/2011/September/Blood%20donation.aspx|title=HIV charities welcome the lifting of lifetime ban on gay men donating blood|publisher=National Aids Trust|date=2011-09-08|access-date=2014-01-31|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202104749/http://www.nat.org.uk/News-and-Media/Press-Releases/2011/September/Blood%20donation.aspx|archive-date=2014-02-02}} A similar change was made in the US in late 2015 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).{{cite web|url=https://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/BloodBloodProducts/QuestionsaboutBlood/ucm108186.htm|title=Revised Recommendations for Reducing the Risk of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Transmission by Blood and Blood Products – Questions and Answers|publisher=US Food and Drug Administration|access-date=2016-03-30|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160330080857/https://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/BloodBloodProducts/QuestionsaboutBlood/ucm108186.htm|archive-date=2016-03-30}} In 2017, the UK and US further reduced their restrictions to three months.{{cite web|url=https://www.blood.co.uk/news-and-campaigns/news-and-statements/blood-donation-rules-have-changed/|title=The rules on blood donation in England change on 28th November|publisher=NHS Blood and Transplant|date=2017-11-28|access-date=2019-10-21|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015113108/https://www.blood.co.uk/news-and-campaigns/news-and-statements/blood-donation-rules-have-changed/|archive-date=2019-10-15}} In 2023, the FDA announced new policies easing restrictions on gay and bisexual men donating blood.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-07 |title=FDA policy allowing more gay and bisexual men to donate blood goes into effect |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/fda-policy-allowing-gay-bisexual-men-donate-blood-goes-effect-rcna98234 |access-date=2023-08-15 |website=NBC News |language=en}} These updated guidelines stipulate that men in monogamous relationships with other men, or who have not recently had sex, can donate. Individuals who report having sex with people who are HIV positive or have had sex with a new partner who has engaged in anal sex are still barred from blood donation. Autologous donors are not always screened for recipient safety problems since the donor is the only person who will receive the blood.{{cite journal |vauthors=Heim MU, Mempel W |title=[The need for thorough infection screening in donors of autologous blood] |language=de |journal=Beitr Infusionsther |volume=28 |pages=313–316 |year=1991 |pmid=1725645 }} Since the donated blood may be given to pregnant women or women of child-bearing age, donors taking teratogenic (birth defect-causing) medications are deferred. These medications include acitretin, etretinate, isotretinoin, finasteride, and dutasteride.{{cite web|url=https://www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/druginfo/avodart.htm|title=Avodart consumer information|publisher=US Food and Drug Administration|access-date=2008-06-01 |archive-url = http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20090509052758/http%3A//www%2Efda%2Egov/cder/consumerinfo/druginfo/avodart%2Ehtm |archive-date = May 9, 2009 }}

Donors are examined for signs and symptoms of diseases that can be transmitted in a blood transfusion, such as HIV, malaria, and viral hepatitis. Screening may include questions about risk factors for various diseases, such as travel to countries at risk for malaria or variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (vCJD). These questions vary from country to country. For example, while blood centers in Québec and the rest of Canada, Poland, and many other places defer donors who lived in the United Kingdom for risk of vCJD,{{cite web | title=Donor Qualification criteria | publisher=Héma-Québec, Canada |url=http://www.hema-quebec.qc.ca/anglais/dondesang/qualifidonneurs.htm | access-date=2006-12-17 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061108025138/http://www.hema-quebec.qc.ca/anglais/dondesang/qualifidonneurs.htm |archive-date = 2006-11-08}}{{cite web|title=Permanent exclusion criteria / Dyskwalifikacja stała |url=http://www.rckik-warszawa.com.pl/dlakrwio_ds.html |publisher=RCKiK Warszawa |language=pl |access-date=2010-03-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090830053230/http://www.rckik-warszawa.com.pl/dlakrwio_ds.html |archive-date=August 30, 2009 }} donors in the United Kingdom are only restricted for vCJD risk if they have had a blood transfusion in the United Kingdom.{{Cite web|url=http://transfusionguidelines.org.uk/Index.aspx?Publication=RB&Section=25&pageid=546|title=Guidelines for UK Blood Services|access-date=2008-06-01|publisher=UK Blood and Tissue Services|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515023549/http://www.transfusionguidelines.org.uk/index.aspx?Publication=RB|archive-date=2008-05-15}} Australia removed its UK-donor deferral in July 2022.Hoad VC, Seed CR, Kiely P, Styles CE, McManus H, Law M, Kaldor J, Gosbell IB. Removal of UK-donor deferral for variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: A large donation gain in Australia. Vox Sang. 2023 Oct;118(10):891-894. doi: 10.1111/vox.13510. Epub 2023 Aug 11. PMID: 37563946.

Directed donations from family members (e.g., a father donating blood to his child) carry extra risks for the recipient. Any blood transfusion carries some risk of a transfusion reaction, but between genetically related family members, there are additional risks. The donated blood must be irradiated to prevent a potentially deadly graft-versus-host disease, which is more likely between genetically related people. Not all healthcare facilities have the equipment to do this on site. Alloimmunization is a particular risk for directed granulocyte donations. It is a common misconception that directed donations are safer for the recipient; however, family members and close friends, especially parents who have not previously donated blood, frequently feel pressured into lying about disqualifying risk factors (e.g., drug use or prior sexual relationships) and their eligibility, which can result in a higher risk of infection with bloodborne pathogens. Additionally, in the less common case of a person with leukemia or other bone marrow disease, a familial blood transfusion can trigger the production of alloantibodies against HLA proteins, which can cause a bone marrow transplant from that donor to fail in the future. (Closely related family members are usually the best match for a bone marrow transplant.) A directed donation from an unrelated friend, however, would not have the same risk.

The donor is also examined and asked specific questions about their medical history to make sure that donating blood is not hazardous to their health. The donor's hematocrit or hemoglobin level is tested to make sure that the loss of blood will not make them anemic, and this check is the most common reason that a donor is ineligible.{{cite journal |author=Gómez-Simón A |title=Evaluation of four rapid methods for hemoglobin screening of whole blood donors in mobile collection settings |journal=Transfus. Apher. Sci. |volume=36 |issue=3 |pages=235–242 |date=Jun 2007 |pmid=17556020 |doi=10.1016/j.transci.2007.01.010 |author2=Navarro-Núñez L |author3=Pérez-Ceballos E |display-authors=3 |last4=Lozano |first4=M |last5=Candela |first5=M |last6=Cascales |first6=A |last7=Martinez |first7=C |last8=Corral |first8=J |last9=Vicente |first9=V}} Accepted hemoglobin levels for blood donations, by the American Red Cross, is 12.5g/dL (for females) and 13.0g/dL (for males) to 20.0g/dL, anyone with a higher or lower hemoglobin level cannot donate.{{Cite web|title=Iron Information for All Blood Donors|url=https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/blood-donation-process/before-during-after/iron-blood-donation/iron-informationforallblooddonors.html|access-date=2020-10-20|website=www.redcrossblood.org|language=en|archive-date=2020-10-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016185542/https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/blood-donation-process/before-during-after/iron-blood-donation/iron-informationforallblooddonors.html|url-status=live}} Pulse, blood pressure, and body temperature are also evaluated. Elderly donors are sometimes also deferred on age alone because of health concerns.{{cite journal |vauthors=Goldman M, Fournier E, Cameron-Choi K, Steed T |title=Effect of changing the age criteria for blood donors |journal=Vox Sang. |volume=92 |issue=4 |pages=368–372 |date=May 2007 |pmid=17456161 |doi=10.1111/j.1423-0410.2007.00897.x |s2cid=36493554 }} In addition to age, weight and height are important factors when considering the eligibility for donors. For example, the American Red Cross requires a donor to be {{convert|110|lb|kg}} or more for whole blood and platelet donation and at least {{convert|130|lb|kg}} (males) and at least {{convert|150|lb|kg}} (females) for power red donations (double red erythrocytapheresis).{{Cite web|title=Eligibility Requirements|url=https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/eligibility-requirements.html|access-date=2020-10-20|website=www.redcrossblood.org|language=en|archive-date=2020-10-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016185850/https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/eligibility-requirements.html|url-status=live}} The safety of donating blood during pregnancy has not been studied thoroughly, and pregnant women are usually deferred until six weeks after the pregnancy.{{cite web|url=http://www.bloodbankofalaska.org/donating/faq.html|title=Donating – Frequently Asked Questions|access-date=2008-06-01|publisher=Blood Bank of Alaska|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080606001946/http://www.bloodbankofalaska.org/donating/faq.html|archive-date=2008-06-06}} Donors with aortic stenosis have traditionally been deferred out of concern that the acute volume depletion (475 mL) of blood donation might compromise cardiac output.Dzik WH, Fleisher AG, Ciavarella D, Karlson KJ, Reed GE, Berger RL. Safety and efficacy of autologous blood donation before elective aortic valve operation. Ann Thorac Surg. 1992 Dec;54(6):1177-80; discussion 1180-1. doi: 10.1016/0003-4975(92)90090-q. PMID: 1449306.

File:Blood Donor Health Screening Report.png

The donor's blood type must be determined if the blood will be used for transfusions. The collecting agency usually identifies whether the blood is type A, B, AB, or O and the donor's Rh (D) type and will screen for antibodies to less common antigens. More testing, including a crossmatch, is usually done before a transfusion. Type O negative is often cited as the "universal donor"{{cite web|url=http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/blood-type-test|title=Blood Type Test|publisher=WebMD.com|access-date=2008-06-01|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529053700/http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/blood-type-test|archive-date=2008-05-29}} but this only refers to red cell and whole blood transfusions. For plasma and platelet transfusions the system is reversed: AB positive is the universal platelet donor type while both AB positive and AB negative are universal plasma donor types.{{cite web|url=http://donatebloodnow.org/apheresis/docs/Plasma_Fact%20Sheet.pdf|title=Plasma fact sheet|publisher=American Red Cross|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326155535/http://donatebloodnow.org/apheresis/docs/Plasma_Fact%20Sheet.pdf|archive-date=2009-03-26}}{{Cite web | url=https://www.scbb.org/donateblood/donor-information/right-type-right-time.html | title=Right Type, Right Time | access-date=2018-07-22 | archive-date=2018-07-22 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722184739/https://www.scbb.org/donateblood/donor-information/right-type-right-time.html | url-status=live }}

Most blood is tested for diseases, including some STDs.{{cite journal |author=Bhattacharya P |title=Significant increase in HBV, HCV, HIV, and syphilis infections among blood donors in West Bengal, Eastern India 2004–2005: exploratory screening reveals high frequency of occult HBV infection |journal=World J. Gastroenterol. |volume=13 |issue=27 |pages=3730–3733 |date=Jul 2007 |pmid=17659734 |pmc=4250646 |doi=10.3748/wjg.v13.i27.3730 |author2=Chandra PK |author3=Datta S |display-authors=3 |last4=Banerjee |first4=A |last5=Chakraborty |first5=S |last6=Rajendran |first6=K |last7=Basu |first7=SK |last8=Bhattacharya |first8=SK |last9=Chakravarty |first9=R |doi-access=free }} The tests used are high-sensitivity screening tests and no actual diagnosis is made. Some of the test results are later found to be false positives using more specific testing.{{cite web|url=http://www.aabb.org/Content/About_Blood/Facts_About_Blood_and_Blood_Banking/fabloodtesting.htm|title=Testing of Donor Blood for infectious disease|publisher=AABB|access-date=2008-06-25|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509055313/http://www.aabb.org/Content/About_Blood/Facts_About_Blood_and_Blood_Banking/fabloodtesting.htm|archive-date=2008-05-09}} False negatives are rare, but donors are discouraged from using blood donation for the purpose of anonymous STD screening because a false negative could mean a contaminated unit. The blood is usually discarded if these tests are positive, but there are some exceptions, such as autologous donations. The donor is generally notified of the test result.{{cite journal |author1=R. Miller |author2=P.E. Hewitt |author3=R. Warwick |author4=M.C. Moore |author5=B. Vincent |title=Review of counselling in a transfusion service: the London (UK) experience |journal=Vox Sang |volume=74 |issue=3 |pages=133–139 |year=1998 |pmid=9595639 |doi=10.1046/j.1423-0410.1998.7430133.x|s2cid=24514380 |doi-access= }}

Donated blood is tested by many methods, but the core tests recommended by the World Health Organization are these four:{{Cite web |title=Blood safety and availability |url=https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blood-safety-and-availability |access-date=2022-10-28 |website=www.who.int |language=en |archive-date=2020-04-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424022540/https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blood-safety-and-availability |url-status=live }}

• Hepatitis B surface antigen
• Antibody to hepatitis C
• Antibody to HIV, usually subtypes 1 and 2
• Serologic test for syphilis

The WHO reported in 2006 that 56 out of 124 countries surveyed did not use these basic tests on all blood donations.

A variety of other tests for transfusion transmitted infections are often used based on local requirements. Additional testing is expensive, and in some cases the tests are not implemented because of the cost.{{cite web|url=http://www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/acmsbtt/msbtsum280605.pdf|title=Advisory Committee on MSBTO, 28 June 2005|access-date=2008-06-01|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528073208/http://www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/acmsbtt/msbtsum280605.pdf|archive-date=28 May 2008}} These additional tests include other infectious diseases such as West Nile fever{{cite web | title=Precautionary West Nile virus blood sample testing| publisher=Héma-Québec, Canada | url=http://www.hema-quebec.qc.ca/anglais/centredepresse/coms2005/20050808.htm | access-date=2006-12-17 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070913200134/http://www.hema-quebec.qc.ca/anglais/centredepresse/coms2005/20050808.htm |archive-date = 2007-09-13}} and babesiosis.{{Cite press release|title=FDA approves first tests to screen for tickborne parasite in whole blood and plasma to protect the U.S. blood supply|date=6 March 2018|publisher=FDA|url=https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm599782.htm|quote=While babesiosis is both preventable and treatable, until today, there was no way to screen for infections amongst blood donors|access-date=6 March 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307040445/https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm599782.htm|archive-date=7 March 2018}} Sometimes multiple tests are used for a single disease to cover the limitations of each test. For example, the HIV antibody test will not detect a recently infected donor, so some blood banks use a p24 antigen or HIV nucleic acid test in addition to the basic antibody test to detect infected donors. Cytomegalovirus is a special case in donor testing in that many donors will test positive for it.{{cite web|url=http://www.aabb.org/Documents/About_Blood/Circulars_of_Information/coi0702.pdf |title=Circular of Information for use of Blood and Blood Products |publisher=AABB, ARC, America's Blood Centers |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091007071259/http://www.aabb.org/Documents/About_Blood/Circulars_of_Information/coi0702.pdf |archive-date=2009-10-07 }} The virus is not a hazard to a healthy recipient, but it can harm infants{{cite web |url=http://www.cps.ca/english/statements/fn/fn02-02.htm#What%20type%20of%20RBCs%20should%20be%20used |title=Red blood cell transfusions in newborn infants: Revised guidelines |publisher=Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) |access-date=2007-02-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070203095445/http://www.cps.ca/english/statements/FN/fn02-02.htm#What%20type%20of%20RBCs%20should%20be%20used |archive-date=2007-02-03 }} and other recipients with weak immune systems.

Blood testing in the US takes at least 48 hours.{{Cite journal |last1=Kim |first1=Daniel H. |last2=Berkman |first2=Emily |last3=Clark |first3=Jonna D. |last4=Saifee |first4=Nabiha H. |last5=Diekema |first5=Douglas S. |last6=Lewis-Newby |first6=Mithya |date=2023 |title=Parental Refusals of Blood Transfusions from COVID-19 Vaccinated Donors for Children Needing Cardiac Surgery |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38661995 |journal=Narrative Inquiry in Bioethics |volume=13 |issue=3 |pages=215–226 |doi=10.1353/nib.2023.a924193 |issn=2157-1740 |pmid=38661995}} Because of the time required for testing, directed donations are not practical in emergencies.

File:Blood donation at Fleet Week USA.jpg sailor donating blood]]

File:Blood donation needle.jpg

There are two main methods of obtaining blood from a donor. The most frequent is to simply take the blood from a vein as whole blood. This blood is typically separated into parts, usually red blood cells and plasma, since most recipients (other than trauma patients) need only a specific component for transfusions.Coulthard SL, Kaplan LJ, Cannon JW. What's new in whole blood resuscitation? In the trauma bay and beyond. Curr Opin Crit Care. 2024 Jun 1;30(3):209-216. doi: 10.1097/MCC.0000000000001140. Epub 2024 Feb 6. PMID: 38441127.

The amount of [https://physiotalkofficial.com/what-happens-to-your-body-when-you-donate-blood/ blood donated] in one session – generally called a 'unit' – is defined by the WHO as 450 millilitres.{{cite web | url = https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/blood-products-why-should-i-donate-blood | title = Why Should I Donate Blood | date = 2022-06-06 | website = WHO | access-date = 2023-02-18 | archive-date = 2023-02-18 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230218101325/https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/blood-products-why-should-i-donate-blood | url-status = live }} Some countries like Canada follow this standard,{{cite news | url = https://www.reference.com/science-technology/much-one-unit-blood-c72a3d11219cd49c | title = How Much Is One Unit of Blood? | date = 2020-04-11 | website = reference.com | publisher = Ask Media Group LLC | access-date = 2023-02-18 }} but others have set their own rules, and sometimes there is variation even among different agencies within a country. For example, whole blood donations in the United States are in the 460–500 ml range,{{cite web|url=http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/blood-donation/GA00039|title=Blood donation: What to expect|publisher=Mayo Clinic|access-date=2008-12-03|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204105051/http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/blood-donation/GA00039|archive-date=2008-12-04}}{{cite web | url = https://www.oneblood.org/media/blog/how-much-blood-is-taken-when-you-donate.stml | title = How Much Blood Is Taken When You Donate? | last = Eberts | first = Dan | date = 2021-08-17 | website = OneBlood | access-date = 2023-02-18 | archive-date = 2023-02-18 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230218101325/https://www.oneblood.org/media/blog/how-much-blood-is-taken-when-you-donate.stml | url-status = live }} while those in the EU must be in the 400-500 ml range.{{cite report | date = 2004-03-22 | title = Commission Directive 2004/33/EC | url = https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32004L0033&from=EN | publisher = Official Journal of the European Union | page = 14 | access-date = 2023-02-18 }} Other countries have smaller units – India uses 350 ml,{{cite web | url = http://nbtc.naco.gov.in/page/donationprocess/ | title = Donation Process | website = National AIDS Control Organisation | publisher = National Blood Transfusion Council | access-date = 2023-02-18 | archive-date = 2023-02-18 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230218162930/http://nbtc.naco.gov.in/page/donationprocess/ | url-status = live }} Singapore 350 or 450 ml,{{cite web | url = https://www.hsa.gov.sg/blood-donation/blood-facts-and-figures | title = Blood facts and figures | website = Government of Singapore | date = 31 October 2018 | publisher = Health Sciences Authority | access-date = 2023-02-18 | archive-date = 2023-02-18 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230218101331/https://www.hsa.gov.sg/blood-donation/blood-facts-and-figures | url-status = live }} and Japan 200 or 400 ml.{{cite report | date = 2017 | title = 献血者血液検査結果の集計 / Hematologic and Biochemical Values in Blood Donors | url = https://www.jrc.or.jp/donation/pdf/summary2017.pdf | publisher = Japanese Red Cross Society | page = 5 | access-date = 2023-02-18 }} Historically, donors in the People's Republic of China would donate only 200 ml, though larger 300 and 400 ml donations have become more common, particularly in northern China and for heavier donors.{{cite journal|title=Who donates blood at five ethnically and geographically diverse blood centers in China in 2008|author=Jingxing Wang|journal=Transfusion|volume=50|date=December 2010|doi=10.1111/j.1537-2995.2010.02722.x|author2=Nan Guo (corresponding)|display-authors=2|last3=Guo|first3=Xiaoming|last4=Li|first4=Julin|last5=Wen|first5=Guo-Xing|last6=Yang|first6=Tonghan|last7=Yun|first7=Zhongqiao|last8=Huang|first8=Yi|last9=Schreiber|first9=George B.|issue=12|pages=2686–2694|pmid=20553435|s2cid=205723043}} In any case, an additional 5-10 ml of blood may be collected separately for testing.

The other method is to draw blood from the donor, separate it using a centrifuge or a filter, store the desired part, and return the rest to the donor. This process is called apheresis, and it is often done with a machine specifically designed for this purpose. This process is especially common for plasma, platelets, and red blood cells.{{cite journal| author=Waxman DA| title=Volunteer donor apheresis. | journal=Ther Apher | year= 2002 | volume= 6 | issue= 1 | pages= 77–81 | pmid=11886580 | doi=10.1046/j.1526-0968.2002.00395.x | pmc= | url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11886580 }}

For direct transfusions a vein can be used but the blood may be taken from an artery instead.{{cite journal |vauthors=Sagi E, Eyal F, Armon Y, Arad I, Robinson M |title=Exchange transfusion in newborns via a peripheral artery and vein |journal=Eur. J. Pediatr. |volume=137 |issue=3 |pages=283–284 |date=Nov 1981 |pmid=7318840 |doi= 10.1007/BF00443258|s2cid=23219586 }} In this case, the blood is not stored, but is pumped directly from the donor into the recipient. This was an early method for blood transfusion and is rarely used in modern practice.{{cite web

|url = https://www.pbs.org/wnet/redgold/basics/bloodonhoof.html

|title = Blood on the Hoof

|publisher = Public Broadcasting Service

|access-date = 2008-06-25

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080604035952/http://www.pbs.org/wnet/redgold/basics/bloodonhoof.html

|archive-date = 2008-06-04

}} It was phased out during World War II because of problems with logistics, and doctors returning from treating wounded soldiers set up banks for stored blood when they returned to civilian life.{{cite web|url=http://www.isbt-web.org/files/tt/TT63.pdf|title=ISBT Quarterly Newsletter, June 2006, "A History of Fresh Blood", p. 15|access-date=2008-07-31|publisher=International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT/SITS)|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080803020034/http://www.isbt-web.org/files/tt/TT63.pdf|archive-date=2008-08-03}}

File:Blood draw 16 second.webm

The blood is drawn from a large arm vein close to the skin, usually the median cubital vein on the inside of the elbow. The skin over the blood vessel is cleaned with an antiseptic such as iodine or chlorhexidine{{cite journal |vauthors=Lee CK, Ho PL, Chan NK, Mak A, Hong J, Lin CK |title=Impact of donor arm skin disinfection on the bacterial contamination rate of platelet concentrates |journal=Vox Sang. |volume=83 |issue=3 |pages=204–208 |date=Oct 2002 |pmid=12366760 |doi=10.1046/j.1423-0410.2002.00219.x |s2cid=19946631 }} to prevent skin bacteria from contaminating the collected blood and also to prevent infections where the needle pierced the donor's skin.{{cite book |author=M. L. Turgeon|title=Clinical Hematology: Theory and Procedures |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=v2iyQBKx00kC&q=phlebotomy+complications&pg=PA30 |access-date=2008-06-21 |edition= fourth |year= 2004 |publisher= Lippincott Williams & Wilkins |isbn= 978-0-7817-5007-3 |page= 30}}

A largeOne major manufacturer of collection sets uses a 16 gauge (1.651 mm) size {{cite web|url=http://www.genesisbps.com/PDF/blood_bags_terumo.pdf|title=Blood banking laboratory supplies|publisher=Genesis BPS|access-date=2008-06-01|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080625001730/http://www.genesisbps.com/PDF/blood_bags_terumo.pdf|archive-date=2008-06-25}} needle (16 to 17 gauge) is used to minimize shearing forces that may physically damage red blood cells as they flow through the needle.{{cite web|url= http://www.bd.com/vacutainer/pdfs/techtalk/TechTalk_Jan2004_VS7167.pdf|title= What is Hemolysis?|access-date= 2008-06-01|publisher= Becton-Dickinson|url-status= live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080625001730/http://www.bd.com/vacutainer/pdfs/techtalk/TechTalk_Jan2004_VS7167.pdf|archive-date= 2008-06-25}} A tourniquet is sometimes wrapped around the upper arm to increase the pressure of the blood in the arm veins and speed up the process. The donor may also be prompted to hold an object and squeeze it repeatedly to increase the blood flow through the vein.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}

File:Blood Donation 12-07-06 2.JPG

{{Further|Whole blood}}

The most common method is collecting the blood from the donor's vein into a container. The amount of blood drawn varies from 200 millilitres to 550 millilitres depending on the country, but 450 millilitres is typical. The blood is usually stored in a flexible plastic bag that also contains sodium citrate, phosphate, dextrose, and adenine. This combination keeps the blood from clotting and preserves it during storage up to 42 days.{{cite journal |vauthors=Akerblom O, Kreuger A |title=Studies on citrate-phosphate-dextrose (CPD) blood supplemented with adenine |journal=Vox Sang. |volume=29 |issue=2 |pages=90–100 |year=1975 |pmid=238338 |doi= 10.1111/j.1423-0410.1975.tb00484.x|s2cid=9785373}}{{cite journal |last1=Sugita |first1=Yoshiki |last2=Simon |first2=Ernest R. |date=1965 |title=The Mechanism of Action of Adenine in Red Cell Preservation* |journal=Journal of Clinical Investigation |volume=44 |issue=4 |pages=629–642 |issn=0021-9738 |pmid=14278179 |pmc=292538 |doi=10.1172/JCI105176}}{{cite journal |last1=Simon |first1=Ernest R. |last2=Chapman |first2=Robert G. |last3=Finch |first3=Clement A. |date=1962 |title=Adenine in red cell preservation |journal=Journal of Clinical Investigation |volume=41 |issue=2 |pages=351–359 |issn=0021-9738 |pmid=14039291 |pmc=289233 |doi=10.1172/JCI104489}} Other chemicals are sometimes added during processing.

The plasma from whole blood can be used to make plasma for transfusions or it can also be processed into other medications using a process called fractionation. This was a development of the dried plasma used to treat the wounded during World War II and variants on the process are still used to make a variety of other medications.{{cite web|url=http://history.amedd.army.mil/booksdocs/wwii/blood/chapter7.htm|title=Plasma Equipment and Packaging, and Transfusion Equipment|publisher=Office of Medical History (OTSG)|access-date=2008-06-19|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609105142/http://history.amedd.army.mil/booksdocs/wwii/blood/chapter7.htm|archive-date=2017-06-09}}{{cite web|url=http://www.sanquin.nl/Sanquin-eng/sqn_From_blood_to_medicine.nsf/All/Plasma-Fractionation---Medicines-Derived-From-Plasma.html|title=Medicines derived from human plasma|publisher=Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation|access-date=2008-06-01|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090101223605/http://www.sanquin.nl/Sanquin-eng/sqn_From_blood_to_medicine.nsf/All/Plasma-Fractionation---Medicines-Derived-From-Plasma.html|archive-date=2009-01-01}}

{{Main|Apheresis|Erythrocytapheresis|Plasmapheresis|Plateletpheresis}}

File:Platelets collected by using apheresis.jpg at an American Red Cross donation center]]

Apheresis is a blood donation method where the blood is passed through an apparatus that separates out one particular constituent and returns the remainder to the donor. Usually the component returned is the red blood cells, the portion of the blood that takes the longest to replace. Using this method an individual can donate plasma or platelets much more frequently than they can safely donate whole blood.[http://www.blood.co.uk/pages/b8apher.html Component Donation] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091011201240/http://www.blood.co.uk/pages/b8apher.html |date=2009-10-11 }} UK National Blood Service. Retrieved 2009-10-26 These can be combined, with a donor giving both plasma and platelets in the same donation.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}}

Platelets can also be separated from whole blood, but they must be pooled from multiple donations. From three to ten units of whole blood are required for a therapeutic dose.{{cite web|url=http://www.scbcinfo.org/publications/bulletin_v2_n2.htm|title=Indications for Platelet Transfusion Therapy|publisher=Southeastern Community Blood Center|access-date=2008-06-10|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512120421/http://www.scbcinfo.org/publications/bulletin_v2_n2.htm|archive-date=2008-05-12}} Plateletpheresis provides at least one full dose from each donation.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}

During a platelet donation, the blood is drawn from the patient and the platelets are separated from the other blood components. The remainder of the blood, red blood cells, plasma, and white blood cells are returned to the patient. This process is completed several times for a period of up to two hours to collect a single donation.{{cite web |url=https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/types-of-blood-donations/platelet-donation.html |title=Platelet Donation |publisher=The American National Red Cross |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329193614/https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/types-of-blood-donations/platelet-donation.html |archive-date=2019-03-29 |access-date=2019-05-16 }}

Plasmapheresis is frequently used to collect source plasma that is used for manufacturing into medications much like the plasma from whole blood. Plasma collected at the same time as plateletpheresis is sometimes called concurrent plasma.

Apheresis is also used to collect more red blood cells than usual in a single donation (commonly known as "double reds") and to collect white blood cells for transfusion.{{cite web|url = http://www.unitedbloodservices.org/automation.html|title = Double Up to Save Lives|publisher = United Blood Services|access-date=2007-02-23 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061230200404/http://www.unitedbloodservices.org/automation.html |archive-date = 2006-12-30}}{{cite web| url = http://www.my-redcross.org/index.cfm/p/Double-Red-Cell| title = Double the Difference| publisher = American Red Cross (Greater Chesapeake and Potomac)| access-date=2007-02-23 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070513184529/http://www.my-redcross.org/index.cfm/p/Double-Red-Cell |archive-date = 2007-05-13}}

File:Blood Donation 12-07-06 1.JPG

Donors are usually kept at the donation site for 10–15 minutes after donating since most adverse reactions take place during or immediately after the donation. Blood centers typically provide light refreshments, such as orange juice and cookies, or a lunch allowance to help the donor recover.{{cite web|url=http://siba2.unile.it/ese/issues/288/660/RelazDonazSanguigne_p6.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080803020034/http://siba2.unile.it/ese/issues/288/660/RelazDonazSanguigne_p6.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2008-08-03|title=Report on the promotion by Member States of voluntary unpaid blood donation|publisher=Commission of the European Communities|access-date=2008-06-26}} The needle site is covered with a bandage and the donor is directed to keep the bandage on for several hours. In hot climates, donors are advised to avoid dehydration (strenuous exercise and games, alcohol) until a few hours after donation.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}

Donated plasma is replaced after 2–3 days.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbccts.org/donating/automated.htm|title=Donating Apheresis and Plasma|publisher=Community Blood Center|access-date=2008-06-11|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704182910/http://www.cbccts.org/donating/automated.htm|archive-date=2008-07-04}} Red blood cells are replaced by bone marrow into the circulatory system at a slower rate, on average 36 days in healthy adult males. In one study, the range was 20 to 59 days for recovery.{{cite journal |vauthors=Pottgiesser T, Specker W, Umhau M, Dickhuth HH, Roecker K, Schumacher YO |title=Recovery of hemoglobin mass after blood donation |journal=Transfusion |volume=48 |issue=7 |pages=1390–1397 |date=2008 |pmid=18466177 |doi=10.1111/j.1537-2995.2008.01719.x |s2cid=21814989 }} These replacement rates are the basis of how frequently a donor can donate blood.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}

Plasmapheresis and plateletpheresis donors can donate much more frequently because they do not lose significant amounts of red cells. The exact rate of how often a donor can donate differs from country to country. For example, plasmapheresis donors in the United States are allowed to donate large volumes twice a week and could nominally donate 83 litres (about 22 gallons) in a year, whereas the same donor in Japan may only donate every other week and could only donate about 16 litres (about 4 gallons) in a year.{{cite web|url=https://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/03/transcripts/4014T2.htm|title=Blood Products Advisory Committee, 12 December 2003|website=Food and Drug Administration|access-date=2008-06-01|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081108142506/https://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/03/transcripts/4014T2.htm|archive-date=8 November 2008}}

Iron supplementation decreases the rates of donor deferral due to low hemoglobin, both at the first donation visit and at subsequent donations. Iron-supplemented donors have higher hemoglobin and iron stores. On the other hand, iron supplementation frequently causes diarrhea, constipation and epigastric abdominal discomfort. The long-term effects of iron supplementation without measurement of iron stores are unknown.{{cite journal |vauthors=Smith GA, Fisher SA, Doree C, Di Angelantonio E, Roberts DJ |title=Oral or parenteral iron supplementation to reduce deferral, iron deficiency and/or anaemia in blood donors |journal=Cochrane Database Syst Rev |volume=2014 |issue= 7|page=CD009532 |year=2014 |pmid=24990381 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD009532.pub2|s2cid=205200473 |pmc=11019466 }}

Donors are screened for health problems that would put them at risk for serious complications from donating. First-time donors, teenagers, and women are at a higher risk of a reaction.{{cite journal |title=Adverse reactions to allogeneic whole blood donation by 16- and 17-year-olds |journal=JAMA |volume=299 |issue=19 |pages=2279–2286 |date=May 2008 |pmid=18492969 |doi=10.1001/jama.299.19.2279 |doi-access= |last1=Eder |first1=Anne F. |last2=Hillyer |first2=C. D. |last3=Dy |first3=B. A. |last4=Notari Ep |first4=4th |last5=Benjamin |first5=R. J. }}{{cite journal |vauthors=Yuan S, Gornbein J, Smeltzer B, Ziman AF, Lu Q, Goldfinger D |title=Risk factors for acute, moderate to severe donor reactions associated with multicomponent apheresis collections |journal=Transfusion |volume=48 |issue=6 |pages=1213–1219 |date=Jun 2008 |pmid=18346014 |doi=10.1111/j.1537-2995.2008.01674.x |s2cid=403463 }}

One study showed that 2% of donors had an adverse reaction to donation.{{cite web|url=http://www.redcross.or.th/extra/blood_seminar_50/files/211_1525-1536.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080625001733/http://www.redcross.or.th/extra/blood_seminar_50/files/211_1525-1536.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2008-06-25|title=Adverse Effect of Blood Donation, Siriraj Experience|publisher=American Red Cross|access-date=2008-06-01}} Most of these reactions are minor. A study of 194,000 donations found only one donor with long-term complications.{{cite journal |author1=B. Newman |author2=S. Graves | title = A study of 178 consecutive vasovagal syncopal reactions from the perspective of safety | journal = Transfusion | volume = 41 | issue = 12 | pages = 1475–1479 | year = 2001 | pmid = 11778059 | doi = 10.1046/j.1537-2995.2001.41121475.x|s2cid=23789257 }} In the United States, a blood bank is required to report any death that might possibly be linked to a blood donation. An analysis of all reports from October 2008 to September 2009 evaluated six events and found that five of the deaths were clearly unrelated to donation, and in the remaining case they found no evidence that the donation was the cause of death.{{cite web|url=https://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/SafetyAvailability/ReportaProblem/TransfusionDonationFatalities/ucm204763.htm#post|title=Fatalities Reported to FDA|publisher=US Food and Drug Administration|access-date=2010-12-20|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110102002237/https://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/SafetyAvailability/ReportaProblem/TransfusionDonationFatalities/ucm204763.htm#post|archive-date=2011-01-02}}

File:Blood donation bruising.jpg

Hypovolemic reactions can occur because of a rapid change in blood pressure. Fainting is generally the worst problem encountered.{{cite journal |vauthors=Wiltbank TB, Giordano GF, Kamel H, Tomasulo P, Custer B |title=Faint and prefaint reactions in whole-blood donors: an analysis of predonation measurements and their predictive value |journal=Transfusion |volume= 48|issue= 9|pages= 1799–1808|date=May 2008 |pmid=18482188 |doi=10.1111/j.1537-2995.2008.01745.x |s2cid=157599 }} Falls due to loss of consciousness may result in injuries in rare cases.{{Cite journal |last1= Berg|first1=Philipp |last2=Heiden |first2=Margarethe |last3=Müller |first3=Susanne |last4=Meyer |first4=Britta |last5=Witzenhausen |first5=Cornelia |last6=Ruppert-Seipp |first6=Gabriele |last7=Kehr |first7=Sarah |last8=Funk |first8=Markus B. |date=2024-06-18 |title=A national surveillance system for continuous monitoring of blood transfusion safety: German haemovigilance data |journal=Vox Sanguinis |volume=119 |issue=9 |pages=953–962 |language=en |doi=10.1111/vox.13694|doi-access=free |pmid=38889998 }} The risk for developing dizziness with fainting is increased in female and young donors. {{Cite journal |last1=Orru' |first1=S |last2=Poetzsch |first2=K |last3=Hoffelner |first3=M |last4=Heiden |first4=M |last5=Funk |first5=MB |last6=Keller-Stanislawski |first6=B |last7=Oberle |first7=D |date=2021 |title=Blood Donation-Related Adverse Reactions: Results of an Online Survey among Donors in Germany (2018) |journal=Transfusion Medicine and Hemotherapy |language=en |volume=48 |issue=5 |pages=272–283 |doi=10.1159/000516049 |pmc=8578804 |pmid=34803571}}

The process has similar risks to other forms of phlebotomy. Bruising of the arm from the needle insertion is the most common concern. One study found that less than 1% of donors had this problem.{{cite journal |author=Ranasinghe E, Harrison JF |title=Bruising following blood donation, its management and the response and subsequent return rates of affected donors |journal=Transfus Med |volume=10 |issue=2 |pages=113–116 |date=Jun 2000 |pmid=10849380 |doi=10.1046/j.1365-3148.2000.00240.x |s2cid=46557010 }} A number of less common complications of blood donation are known to occur. These include arterial puncture, delayed bleeding, nerve irritation, nerve injury, tendon injury, thrombophlebitis, and allergic reactions.{{cite journal |author=Working Group on Complications Related to Blood Donation JF |title=Standard for Surveillance of Complications Related to Blood D Donation |journal=European Haemovigilance Network |page=11 |year=2008 |url=http://www.isbt-web.org/members_only/files/society/StandardSurveillanceDOCO.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100215092521/http://www.isbt-web.org/members_only/files/society/StandardSurveillanceDOCO.pdf |archive-date=2010-02-15 }}

Donors sometimes have adverse reactions to the sodium citrate used in apheresis collection procedures to keep the blood from clotting. Since the anticoagulant is returned to the donor along with blood components that are not being collected, it can bind the calcium in the donor's blood and cause hypocalcemia.{{cite journal |vauthors=Bolan CD, Greer SE, Cecco SA, Oblitas JM, Rehak NN, Leitman SF |title=Comprehensive analysis of citrate effects during plateletpheresis in normal donors |journal=Transfusion |volume=41 |issue=9 |pages=1165–1171 |date=Sep 2001 |pmid=11552076 |doi=10.1046/j.1537-2995.2001.41091165.x |s2cid=22220301 |url=https://zenodo.org/record/1236510 |access-date=2019-07-05 |archive-date=2020-07-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727011534/https://zenodo.org/record/1236510 |url-status=live }} These reactions tend to cause tingling in the lips, but may cause convulsions, seizure, hypertension, or more serious problems.{{cite journal |author1=Sorensen, BS |author2=Johnsen, SP |author3=Jorgensen, J. |title= Complications related to blood donation: A population-based study |journal= Vox Sanguinis |date= Feb 2008 |volume= 94 |issue= 2 |pages= 132–137|doi= 10.1111/j.1423-0410.2007.01000.x |pmid= 18028259|s2cid=35763171 }} Donors are sometimes given calcium supplements during the donation to prevent these side effects.{{cite web|url=http://www.redcross.org/services/biomed/0,1082,0_543_,00.html|title=Jerome H. Holland Laboratory for the Biomedical Sciences Volunteer Research Blood Program (RBP)|publisher=American Red Cross|access-date=2008-06-01|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080315230152/http://www.redcross.org/services/biomed/0,1082,0_543_,00.html|archive-date=2008-03-15}}

In apheresis procedures, the red blood cells are returned. If this is done manually and the donor receives the blood from a different donor, a transfusion reaction can take place. Manual apheresis is extremely rare in the developed world because of this risk and automated procedures are as safe as whole blood donations.{{cite journal |author=Wiltbank TB, Giordano GF |title=The safety profile of automated collections: an analysis of more than 1 million collections |journal=Transfusion |volume=47 |issue=6 |pages=1002–1005 |date=Jun 2007 |pmid=17524089 |doi=10.1111/j.1537-2995.2007.01224.x |last2=Giordano |first2=Gerald F. |s2cid=19739978}}

The final risk to blood donors is from equipment that has not been properly sterilized.Global AIDS Crisis: A Reference Handbook, Richard G. Marlink, Alison G. Kotin, p. 16 [https://books.google.com/books?id=aGfvQxiWLxAC], ABC-CLIO In most cases, the equipment that comes in direct contact with blood is discarded after use.{{cite web|url=http://www.ibts.ie/generic.cfm?mID=2&sID=9|title=Blood Donor Information Leaflet|publisher=Irish Blood Transfusion Service|access-date=2008-06-01|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071119034136/http://www.ibts.ie/generic.cfm?mID=2&sID=9|archive-date=2007-11-19}} Re-used equipment was a significant problem in China in the 1990s, and up to 250,000 blood plasma donors may have been exposed to HIV from shared equipment.{{cite web|url=http://www.usembassy-china.org.cn/sandt/webaids5.htm|title=Keeping China's blood supply free of HIV|publisher=US Embassy, Beijing|access-date=2008-06-01|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907143947/http://www.usembassy-china.org.cn/sandt/webaids5.htm|archive-date=2008-09-07}}{{cite journal |author=Cohen J |title=HIV/AIDS in China. An unsafe practice turned blood donors into victims |journal=Science |volume=304 |issue=5676 |pages=1438–1439 |date=Jun 2004 |pmid=15178781 |doi=10.1126/science.304.5676.1438 |s2cid=45756186 }}{{cite web | url = https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/26/contaminated-blood-whistleblower-dies-in-us | title = Contaminated blood whistleblower dies in US | first = Mattha | last = Busby | date = 26 September 2019 | access-date = 26 September 2019 | work = The Guardian | archive-date = 26 September 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190926145307/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/26/contaminated-blood-whistleblower-dies-in-us | url-status = live }}

File:Blood Research- Saving Lives (8384) (9759061442).jpg

{{main|Blood bank}}

The collected blood is usually stored in a blood bank as separate components, and some of these have short shelf lives. There are no storage methods to keep platelets for extended periods of time, though some were being studied as of 2008.{{cite journal|title=In Vitro Evaluation of Buffy Coat Derived Platelet Concentrates in SSP+ Platelet Storage Medium|last1=Beard|first1=M.|last2=Garwood|first2=M.|last3=Cookson|first3=P.|last4=Bashir|first4=S.|last5=Hancock|first5=V.|last6=Pergande|first6=C.|last7=Smith|first7=K.|last8=Turner|first8=C.|last9=Wiltshire|first9=M.|last10=Thomas|first10=S.|last11=Cardigan|first11=R.|journal=Transfusion Medicine |year=2006|volume=16|page=26|doi=10.1111/j.1365-3148.2006.00694_4.x|s2cid=72452243}} The longest shelf life used for platelets is seven days.{{cite web|url=http://transfusionguidelines.org.uk/index.asp?Publication=HTM&Section=9&pageid=1106|title=Transfusion Handbook, summary information for Platelets|publisher=National Blood Transfusion Committee|access-date=2008-06-02|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080804171854/http://www.transfusionguidelines.org.uk/index.asp?Publication=HTM&Section=9&pageid=1106|archive-date=2008-08-04}}

Red blood cells (RBC), the most frequently used component, have a shelf life of 35–42 days at refrigerated temperatures.{{cite journal |vauthors=Lockwood WB, Hudgens RW, Szymanski IO, Teno RA, Gray AD |title=Effects of rejuvenation and frozen storage on 42-day-old AS-3 RBCs |journal=Transfusion |volume=43 |issue=11 |pages=1527–1532 |date=Nov 2003 |pmid=14617310 |doi=10.1046/j.1537-2995.2003.00551.x |s2cid=22694513 |doi-access=free }}{{cite web|url=http://transfusionguidelines.org.uk/Index.aspx?Publication=HTM&Section=9&pageid=1105|title=Transfusion handbook, Summary information for Red Blood Cells|access-date=2008-06-02|publisher=National Blood Transfusion Committee|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080804173034/http://www.transfusionguidelines.org.uk/Index.aspx?Publication=HTM&Section=9&pageid=1105|archive-date=2008-08-04}} For (relatively rare) long-term storage applications, this can be extended by freezing the blood with a mixture of glycerol, but this process is expensive and requires an extremely cold freezer for storage. Plasma can be stored frozen for an extended period of time and is typically given an expiration date of one year and maintaining a supply is less of a problem.{{cite web|url=http://agmed.sante.gouv.fr/ang/pdf/glffpl.pdf|title=Transfusion of Fresh Frozen Plasma, products, indications|publisher=Agence française de sécurité sanitaire des produits de santé|access-date=2008-06-02|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080625001730/http://agmed.sante.gouv.fr/ang/pdf/glffpl.pdf|archive-date=2008-06-25}}

{{globalize|section|US|date=August 2024}}

File:A sick baby in a hospital bed, with a graph line plunging do Wellcome L0024886.jpg

The American Red Cross states that in the United States, someone needs blood every two seconds, and someone needs platelets every thirty seconds.{{Cite web|title=American Red Cross Issues Emergency Need for Blood Donors|url=https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/press-release/2019/american-red-cross-issues-emergency-need-for-blood-donors.html|access-date=2020-12-12|website=www.redcross.org|language=en|archive-date=2020-08-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815134827/https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/press-release/2019/american-red-cross-issues-emergency-need-for-blood-donors.html|url-status=live}} There is not a consistent demand for each blood type. One type of blood being in stock does not guarantee that another type is. Blood banks may have some units in stock but lack others, ultimately causing the patients that need units for specific blood types to have delayed or canceled procedures.{{Cite journal|last1=Glynn|first1=Simone A.|last2=Williams|first2=Alan E.|last3=Nass|first3=Catharie C.|last4=Bethel|first4=James|last5=Kessler|first5=Debra|last6=Scott|first6=Edward P.|last7=Fridey|first7=Joy|last8=Kleinman|first8=Steven H.|last9=Schreiber|first9=George B.|last10=Retrovirus Epidemiology Donor Study|date=January 2003|title=Attitudes toward blood donation incentives in the United States: implications for donor recruitment|url=http://doi.wiley.com/10.1046/j.1537-2995.2003.00252.x|journal=Transfusion|language=en|volume=43|issue=1|pages=7–16|doi=10.1046/j.1537-2995.2003.00252.x|pmid=12519425|s2cid=25995392|url-access=subscription}} Additionally, every year there is an increase of around 5-7% for transfusions without an increase of donors to balance it as well as a growing population of elderly people that will need more transfusions in the future without a predicted increase in donations{{Cite journal|last=McCarthy|first=Leo J.|date=May 2007|title=How do I manage a blood shortage in a transfusion service?|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1537-2995.2007.01187.x|journal=Transfusion|volume=47|issue=5|pages=760–762|doi=10.1111/j.1537-2995.2007.01187.x|pmid=17465938|s2cid=32044726|issn=0041-1132|url-access=subscription}} to reflect those growing numbers. This was supported in 1998 where blood donations to the Red Cross increased to 8%, totaling 500,000 units but hospitals' need for donations increased by 11%.{{cite journal |last=Hensley |first=Scott |date=October 25, 1999 |title=Blood Shortages Become More Common |url=https://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/19991025/PREMIUM/910250315/blood-shortages-become-more-common |journal=Modern Healthcare |volume=29 |page=34 |access-date=April 15, 2021 |archive-date=April 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415234744/https://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/19991025/PREMIUM/910250315/blood-shortages-become-more-common |url-status=live }}

Blood donations tend to always be high in demand with numerous accounts repeatedly stating periodic shortages over the decades.{{Cite journal|last=Sass|first=Reuben G.|date=June 2013|title=Toward a More Stable Blood Supply: Charitable Incentives, Donation Rates, and the Experience of September 11|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15265161.2013.781703|journal=The American Journal of Bioethics|volume=13|issue=6|pages=38–45|doi=10.1080/15265161.2013.781703|pmid=23641850|s2cid=29044770|issn=1526-5161|url-access=subscription}} However, this trend is disrupted during national disasters. The trend demonstrates that people are donating the most during catastrophes when, arguably, donations are not as needed compared to periods without disasters. From 1988 to 2013, it has been reported that during every national disaster, there was a surplus of donations; a surplus that consisted of over 100 units.{{Cite journal|last=Schmidt|first=Paul J.|date=2002-02-21|title=Blood and Disaster – Supply and Demand|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1056/nejm200202213460813|journal=New England Journal of Medicine|volume=346|issue=8|pages=617–620|doi=10.1056/nejm200202213460813|pmid=11856803|issn=0028-4793|url-access=subscription}} One of the most notable examples of this pattern was the September 11th attacks. A study observed that compared to the four weeks before September 11, there was an estimated increase of 18,700 donations from first-time donors for the first week after the attack: 4,000 was the average of donations from first-time donors before the attack which increased to about 22,700 donations; while repeat donors increased their donations by 10,000 per week: initially, donations were estimated to be around 16,400 which increased to 26,400 donations after September 11.{{Cite journal|last1=Glynn|first1=Simone A.|last2=Busch|first2=Michael P.|last3=Schreiber|first3=George B.|last4=Murphy|first4=Edward L.|last5=Wright|first5=David J.|last6=Tu|first6=Yongling|last7=Kleinman|first7=Steven H.|last8=for the NHLBI REDS Study Group|date=2003-05-07|title=Effect of a National Disaster on Blood Supply and Safety: The September 11 Experience|journal=JAMA|language=en|volume=289|issue=17|pages=2246–2253|doi=10.1001/jama.289.17.2246|pmid=12734136|issn=0098-7484|doi-access=|s2cid=22399331 }} Therefore, in the first week after the attack on 9/11, there was an overall estimated 28,700 increase in donations compared to the average weekly donations made four weeks prior to the attack. Increases in donations were observed in all blood donation centers, beginning on the day of the attack. While blood donations were above average after the first few weeks following 9/11, the number of donations fell from an estimated 49,000 donations in the first week to 26,000–28,000 donations between the second and fourth weeks after 9/11. Despite the substantial increase of donors, the rate that first-time donors would become repeat donors were the same before and after the attack.

The limited storage time means that it is difficult to have a stockpile of blood to prepare for a disaster. The subject was discussed at length after the September 11 attacks in the United States, and the consensus was that collecting during a disaster was impractical and that efforts should be focused on maintaining an adequate supply at all times.{{cite web|url=http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d021095t.pdf|title=Maintaining an Adequate Blood Supply Is Key to Emergency Preparedness|publisher=Government Accountability Office|access-date=2008-06-01|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224105302/http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d021095t.pdf|archive-date=2013-12-24}} Blood centers in the U.S. often have difficulty maintaining even a three-day supply for routine transfusion demands.{{cite web|url=http://members.americasblood.org/plsql/ecat/supply_monitor_pkg.web_report|title=Current status of America's Blood Centers blood supply|publisher=America's Blood Centers|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201061335/http://members.americasblood.org/plsql/ecat/supply_monitor_pkg.web_report|archive-date=2009-02-01}}

The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes World Blood Donor Day on 14 June each year to promote blood donation. This is the birthday of Karl Landsteiner, the scientist who discovered the ABO blood group system.{{cite web|url=http://www.wbdd.org/index.php?id=24|title=World Blood Donor Day|publisher=World Health Organization|access-date=2008-06-01|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915165850/http://www.wbdd.org/index.php?id=24|archive-date=2008-09-15}} The theme of the 2012 World Blood Donor Day campaign, "Every blood donor is a hero" focuses on the idea that everyone can become a hero by giving blood. Based on data reported by 180 countries between 2011 and 2013, the WHO estimated that approximately 112.5 million units of blood were being collected annually.{{Cite web|url=https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blood-safety-and-availability|title=Blood safety and availability|publisher=World Health Organization|access-date=2019-01-11|archive-date=2018-04-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418141600/http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs279/en/|url-status=live}}

In the United States it is estimated that 111 million citizens are eligible blood donors,{{cite journal |vauthors=Riley W, Schwei M, McCullough J |title=The United States' potential blood donor pool: estimating the prevalence of donor-exclusion factors on the pool of potential donors |journal=Transfusion |volume=47 |issue=7 |pages=1180–1188 |date=July 2007 |pmid=17581152 |doi=10.1111/j.1537-2995.2007.01252.x |s2cid=20867091 |url=https://www.hhs.gov/ash/bloodsafety/presentations/riley0807.pdf |access-date=2013-01-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927212126/http://www.hhs.gov/ash/bloodsafety/presentations/riley0807.pdf |archive-date=2012-09-27 }} or 37% of the population.{{cite web | url = http://www.americasblood.org/about-blood/facts-figures.aspx | title = Facts About Blood | publisher = America's Blood Centers | access-date = 2013-01-04 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131108144957/http://www.americasblood.org/about-blood/facts-figures.aspx | archive-date = 2013-11-08 }} However less than 10% of the 37% eligible blood donors donate annually. In the UK the NHS reports blood donation levels at "only 4%"{{cite web | url = http://www.blood.co.uk/giving-blood/ | publisher = NHS Blood & Transfustion | title = Give Blood | access-date = 2012-01-04 | quote = Blood is something we all expect to be there for us when we need it, yet only 4% of us give blood. | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111230103449/http://www.blood.co.uk/giving%2Dblood/ | archive-date = 2011-12-30 }} while in Canada the rate is 3.5%.{{cite web|url=http://www.bloodservices.ca/centreapps/internet/uw_v502_mainengine.nsf/page/E_Future-donors?OpenDocument|title=Canadian Blood Services|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523231402/http://www.bloodservices.ca/centreapps/internet/uw_v502_mainengine.nsf/page/E_Future-donors?OpenDocument|archive-date=2013-05-23}}

Multiple studies have shown that the main reason people donate is due to prosocial motivators (e.g., altruism, selflessness, charity), general awareness regarding the demand for blood, increased confidence in oneself, helping a personal friend/relative, and social pressure.{{Cite journal|last1=Edwards|first1=Patrick W.|last2=Zeichner|first2=Amos|date=January 1985|title=Blood donor development: Effects of personality, motivational and situational variables|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0191-8869(85)90085-6|journal=Personality and Individual Differences|volume=6|issue=6|pages=743–751|doi=10.1016/0191-8869(85)90085-6|issn=0191-8869|url-access=subscription}}{{Cite journal |last1=Muthivhi |first1=Tshilidzi |last2=Olmsted |first2=M. |last3=Park |first3=H. |last4=Sha |first4=Mandy |date=August 2015 |title=Motivators and deterrents to blood donation among Black South Africans: a qualitative analysis of focus group data |journal=Transfusion Medicine |language=en |volume=25 |issue=4 |pages=249–258 |doi=10.1111/tme.12218 |issn=0958-7578 |pmc=4583344 |pmid=26104809}} On the other hand, lack of blood donations can occur due to fear, lack of faith in the medical professionals, inconvenience, and the lack of consideration for donating,Drake AW. "Public Attitudes and Decision Processes With Regard to Blood Donation: Final Report and Executive Summary". Cambridge, Mass: MIT; 1978:1–189. or perceived racial discrimination. Pathologist Leo McCarthy states that blood shortages routinely occur in the United States between July 4 and Labor day and between Christmas and New Year.

In patients prone to iron overload, blood donation prevents the accumulation of toxic quantities.{{cite journal |vauthors=Fields AC, Grindon AJ |title=Hemochromatosis, iron, and blood donation: a short review |journal=Immunohematology |volume=15 |issue=3 |pages=108–112 |year=2020 |doi=10.21307/immunohematology-2019-628 |pmid=15373512 |s2cid=23137986 |doi-access=free }} Donating blood may reduce the risk of heart disease for men, but the link has not been firmly established and may be from selection bias because donors are screened for health problems.{{cite journal |vauthors=Tuomainen TP, Salonen R, Nyyssönen K, Salonen JT |title=Cohort study of relation between donating blood and risk of myocardial infarction in 2682 men in eastern Finland |journal=BMJ |volume=314 |issue=7083 |pages=793–794 |date=Mar 1997 |pmid=9080998 |pmc=2126176 |doi= 10.1136/bmj.314.7083.793 }}{{cite journal |author1=Atsma, F. |author2=de Vegt, F.|title= The healthy donor effect: a matter of selection bias and confounding|journal=Transfusion|volume=51|pages=1883–1885|date=Sep 2011|issue=9|pmid=21790637|doi= 10.1111/j.1537-2995.2011.03270.x|s2cid=30195641}}

Research published in 2012 demonstrated that in patients with metabolic syndrome, repeated blood donation is effective in reducing blood pressure, blood glucose, HbA1c, low-density lipoprotein/high-density lipoprotein ratio, and heart rate.{{cite journal|last=Manco|first=Melania|author2=Fernandez-Real, Josè|title=Back to past leeches: repeated phlebotomies and cardiovascular risk|journal=BMC Medicine|date=1 January 2012|volume=10|issue=1|page=53|doi=10.1186/1741-7015-10-53|pmid=22647488|pmc=3409018 |doi-access=free }} {{open access}}

A study published in JAMA Network Open tracked PFAS levels in a clinical trial and showed that regular blood or plasma donations resulted in a significant reduction in PFAS levels for the participants.{{cite web |last1=Matei |first1=Adrienne |title=Here's another reason to donate blood: it reduces 'forever chemicals' in your body |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/may/12/heres-another-reason-to-donate-blood-it-reduces-forever-chemicals-in-your-body |website=The Guardian |date=12 May 2022 |publisher=Guardian News & Media Limited |access-date=24 May 2022 |archive-date=24 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524043813/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/may/12/heres-another-reason-to-donate-blood-it-reduces-forever-chemicals-in-your-body |url-status=live }}

File:UK Blood Donor Awards.jpg awards for 50, 25 and 100 donations]]

File:Singapore Red Cross National Blood Programme Ruby Award.jpg for 75 voluntary donations]]

File:Monumento a los Donantes de Sangre en Ávila.JPG ]]

The World Health Organization set a goal in 1997 for all blood donations to come from unpaid volunteer donors, but as of 2006, only 49 of 124 countries surveyed had established this as a standard. Some countries, such as Tanzania, have made great strides in moving towards this standard, with 20 percent of donors in 2005 being unpaid volunteers and 80 percent in 2007, but 68 of 124 countries surveyed by WHO had made little or no progress. Most plasmapheresis donors in the United States are still paid for their donations.{{cite web|url=http://www.gao.gov/archive/1998/he98205.pdf|title=Blood Plasma Safety|publisher=GAO|access-date=2008-06-01|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080625001728/http://www.gao.gov/archive/1998/he98205.pdf|archive-date=2008-06-25}} Donors are now paid between $25 and $50 per donation.{{Cite web|title=Donate Blood For Money|url=http://www.ineedmoneyasap.com/2014/02/donate-blood-for-money/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218163125/http://www.ineedmoneyasap.com/2014/02/donate-blood-for-money/|archive-date=2014-12-18}} In some countries, for example Brazil and the United Kingdom, it is illegal to receive any compensation, monetary or otherwise, for the donation of blood or other human tissues.L. Fusco "From Latin America to Asia, Rising Above Difficulties, Achieving New Heights" AABB News. April 1998: p. 30

Regular donors are often given some sort of non-monetary recognition. Time off from work is a common benefit.{{cite web|url=http://www.labor.state.ny.us/workerprotection/laborstandards/PDFs/Blood%20guidelinesFINAL.pdf|title=Guidelines for Implementation of Employee Blood Donation Leave|publisher=New York State Department of Labor|access-date=2008-06-01|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080625001730/http://www.labor.state.ny.us/workerprotection/laborstandards/PDFs/Blood%20guidelinesFINAL.pdf|archive-date=2008-06-25}} For example, in Italy, blood donors receive the donation day as a paid holiday from work.{{cite web|url=http://www.camera.it/parlam/leggi/05219l.htm|title=Legge 21 ottobre 2005, n. 219 (Law 21 October 2005, n. 219)|publisher=Italian Parliament|access-date=2009-09-04|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090427112804/http://www.camera.it/parlam/leggi/05219l.htm|archive-date=27 April 2009}} In 2023, Poland introduced legislation that secured two days off work for employed persons when they donate - the donation day and the subsequent next day.{{cite web | url=https://kpmg.com/pl/pl/blogs/home/posts/2023/08/dwa-dni-wolnego-od-pracy-dla-honorowego-dawcy-na-stale-w-przepisach-blog-prawny.html | title=Dwa dni wolnego od pracy dla honorowego dawcy na stałe w przepisach | date=11 August 2023 }} Blood centers will also sometimes add incentives such as assurances that donors would have priority during shortages, free T-shirts, first aid kits, windshield scrapers, pens, and similar trinkets. There are also incentives for the people who recruit potential donors, such as prize drawings for donors and rewards for organizers of successful drives.{{cite web|url=http://www.bloodct.org/announcements.php|title=Incentives program for blood donors and organizers|publisher=American Red Cross Connecticut Blood Services Region|access-date=2008-06-01 |url-status=usurped|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080602155009/http://www.bloodct.org/announcements.php |archive-date = 2008-06-02}} Recognition of dedicated donors is common. For example, the Singapore Red Cross Society presents awards for voluntary donors who have made a certain number of donations under the Blood Donor Recruitment Programme starting with a "bronze award" for 25 donations.{{Cite web|title=Red Cross Honour Roll|url=http://www.redcross.org.sg/articles/honour-roll|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928144221/http://www.redcross.org.sg/articles/honour-roll|archive-date=2012-09-28}} In Ireland the Irish Blood Transfusion Service awards a silver pin or pendant for 10 donations, a gold pin or pendant for 20 donations, a gold lapel pin for 50 donations while those reaching 100 donations attend a dinner ceremony where they are presented with a small porcelain statue depicting the logo of the IBTS (a pelican).{{cite web | url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/kerryman/news/are-you-one-of-the-12m-27366158.html | title=Are you one of the 1.2m? | date=5 February 2004 | access-date=2023-04-11 | archive-date=2023-04-11 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411110835/https://www.independent.ie/regionals/kerryman/news/are-you-one-of-the-12m-27366158.html | url-status=live }} The government of Malaysia also offers free outpatient and hospitalization benefits for blood donors, for example, 4 months of free outpatient treatment and hospitalization benefits after every donation.{{cite web |url=https://pdn.gov.my/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16&Itemid=227 |title=Keistimewaan Penderma Darah |access-date=2021-04-15 |trans-title=Blood Donor Privileges |archive-date=2021-04-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415234744/https://pdn.gov.my/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16&Itemid=227 |url-status=live }} In Poland, after donating a specific amount of blood (18 litres for men and 15 for women), a person is gifted with the title of "Distinguished Honorary Blood Donor" as well as a medal. In addition, a popular privilege in larger Polish cities is the right to free use of public transport, but the conditions for obtaining a privilege may vary depending on the city. Also in Poland, Poznań's theatre Teatr Nowy offers theatregoers standing discounts on theatre tickets.{{cite web | url=https://teatrnowy.pl/ceny-zasady-kupna-biletow/ | title=Ceny I Zasady Kupna Biletów }} During the COVID-19 pandemic, many US blood centers advertised free COVID-19 antibody testing as an incentive to donate; however, these antibody tests were also useful for blood centers in determining which donors could be flagged for convalescent plasma donations.{{cite news |title=Donate blood, get antibody test |url=https://www.qchron.com/editions/north/donate-blood-get-antibody-test/article_5af44ceb-ebe3-5b56-8de8-9de2de6dd40e.html |access-date=26 March 2021 |publisher=Queens Chronicle |date=25 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226102709/https://www.qchron.com/editions/north/donate-blood-get-antibody-test/article_5af44ceb-ebe3-5b56-8de8-9de2de6dd40e.html |archive-date=26 February 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Dunbar |first1=Erin |title=Blood drive in Huntsville offering free COVID-19 antibody test |url=https://whnt.com/news/blood-drive-in-huntsville-offering-free-covid-19-antibody-test/ |access-date=26 March 2021 |publisher=WHNT 19 |date=1 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301231742/https://whnt.com/news/blood-drive-in-huntsville-offering-free-covid-19-antibody-test/ |archive-date=1 March 2021}}{{cite news |title=Red Cross calls on donors to refuel the blood supply |url=https://www.kpcnews.com/thestar/article_e85eeab9-331c-5fb2-a23d-82e12f004994.html |access-date=26 March 2021 |work=The Star |date=25 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326202451/https://www.kpcnews.com/thestar/article_e85eeab9-331c-5fb2-a23d-82e12f004994.html |archive-date=26 March 2021}}

Most allogeneic blood donors donate as an act of charity and do not expect to receive any direct benefit from the donation.{{cite journal |author=Steele WR |title=The role of altruistic behavior, empathetic concern, and social responsibility motivation in blood donation behavior |journal=Transfusion |volume=48 |issue=1 |pages=43–54 |date=Jan 2008 |pmid=17894795 |doi=10.1111/j.1537-2995.2007.01481.x |author2=Schreiber GB |author3=Guiltinan A |display-authors=3 |last4=Nass |first4=Catharie |last5=Glynn |first5=Simone A. |last6=Wright |first6=David J. |last7=Kessler |first7=Debra |last8=Schlumpf |first8=Karen S. |last9=Tu |first9=Yongling|s2cid=19252616 |doi-access=free }} The sociologist Richard Titmuss, in his 1970 book The Gift Relationship: From Human Blood to Social Policy, compared the merits of the commercial and non-commercial blood donation systems of the US and the UK, coming down in favor of the latter. The book became a bestseller in the US, resulting in legislation to regulate the private market in blood.{{cite web|url=http://www.ntpu.edu.tw/sw/titmuss2.htm|title=Richard Titmuss|publisher=National University of Taipei social work department|access-date=2010-11-07|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110115040145/http://www.ntpu.edu.tw/sw/titmuss2.htm|archive-date=2011-01-15}} The book is still referenced in modern debates about turning blood into a commodity.{{cite web|url=http://www.australianreview.net/digest/2007/06/waldby.html|title=The logistics of altruism|author=Catherine Waldby, The University of Sydney|author-link1=Catherine Waldby|access-date=2010-11-07|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110121015814/http://www.australianreview.net/digest/2007/06/waldby.html|archive-date=2011-01-21}} The book was republished in 1997 and the same ideas and principles are applied to analogous donation programs, such as organ donation and sperm donation.{{cite journal |url=http://www.cairn.info/article.php?ID_REVUE=RFS&ID_NUMPUBLIE=RFS_445&ID_ARTICLE=RFS_445_0147&FRM=N#no4 |title=Gifts of Blood and Organs: the Market and "Fictitious" Commodities |author=Philippe Steiner |journal=Revue Française de Sociologie |date=2003 |issue=5 |pages=147–162 |publisher=Revue française de sociologie 5/2003 (Volume 44), pp. 147–162 |doi=10.3917/rfs.445.0147 |access-date=2010-11-07 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111204210409/http://www.cairn.info/article.php?ID_REVUE=RFS&ID_NUMPUBLIE=RFS_445&ID_ARTICLE=RFS_445_0147&FRM=N#no4 |archive-date=2011-12-04}}

In low-resource countries, directed donation from family members and friends is common, because there is no other realistic option. The practice causes ethical challenges, because the donor may feel coerced or may be receiving undisclosed payments. Additionally, relying on a social network means that people with large networks of healthy adults have a better chance of receiving life-saving treatment than people without the same social privileges.

• Blood bank#History (history of blood donation)
• Blood donation restrictions on men who have sex with men
• Blood substitute
• James Harrison (blood donor)
• List of blood donation agencies
• World Blood Donor Day
• Xenotransfusion

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{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Blood_donation|Blood donation}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090312073700/http://www.anemia.org/patients/blood-donation/index.php Deferred Donors: Anemia & Blood Donation]
• [https://www.transfusionguidelines.org/ British guidelines for transfusion medicine]
• {{cite journal |author=Harrison E |title=Blood cells for sale |journal=Sci. Am. |volume=297 |issue=5 |pages=108–109 |date=Nov 2007 |pmid=17990831 |doi= 10.1038/scientificamerican1107-108 |bibcode=2007SciAm.297e.108H |quote=(subtitle) There's more to blood banking than just bagging blood}}

{{Transfusion medicine}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Hematology

Category:Transfusion medicine