Confidential Unit Exclusion

• Donors may be given the opportunity to

indicate confidentially whether their blood is
or is not suitable for transfusion to others.

by Mohammed Abu-basha 1
 Physical Examination

• The following variables must be evaluated for each donor.

1. General appearance: If the donor looks ill, or is

excessively nervous, it is best to defer the donation.

2. Weight: No more than 10.5 mL of whole blood per

kilogram of body weight shall be collected at a
donation. This amount shall include samples for
testing.

by Mohammed Abu-basha 2
3. Temperature: The donor’s temperature must
not exceed 37.5 C (99.5 F) if measured orally, or
its equivalent if measured by another method.
Lower than normal temperatures are usually of
no significance in healthy individuals; however,
they should be repeated for confirmation.
 Physical Examination

4. Pulse: The pulse rate should be counted for at

least 15 seconds. It should exhibit no pathologic
irregularity, and the frequency should be
between 50 and 100 beats per minute.

• A donor center physician should evaluate

marked abnormalities of pulse and recommend
acceptance, deferral, or referral for additional
evaluation.

by Mohammed Abu-basha 4
 Physical Examination

5. Blood pressure: The blood pressure should be

no higher than 180 mm Hg systolic and 100 mm
Hg diastolic. Prospective donors whose blood
pressure is above these values should not be
drawn without individual evaluation by a
qualified physician.

by Mohammed Abu-basha 5
6. Hemoglobin or packed cell volume
(hematocrit): Before donation, the hemoglobin
or hematocrit must be determined from a
sample of blood obtained at the time of
donation.

 The table gives the lower limits of hemoglobin

for accepting allogeneic donors. Individuals with
unusually high hemoglobin or hematocrit levels
may need to be evaluated by a physician
because the elevated levels may reflect
pulmonary, hematologic, or other abnormalities.
Hgb 14.0 – 18.0 g/dL
Hct 35.0 – 60.0 %

by Mohammed Abu-basha 7
7. Skin lesions: The skin at the site of venipuncture must
be free of lesions. Individuals with boils, purulent
wounds, or severe skin infections anywhere on the
body should be deferred, as should anyone with
purplish-red or hemorrhagic nodules suggestive of
Kaposi’s sarcoma.

by Mohammed Abu-basha 8
In summary….
99.5°F
37.5°C 180
100

50-100 bpm

110 lbs  12.5 g/dL


 38%
• Am I Eligible to Donate?

• You can donate blood if you:

 Are healthy
 Are at least 17 years of age
 Weigh at least 110 pounds.

by Mohammed Abu-basha 10
• The tables below address specific situations
affecting donation eligibility.

by Mohammed Abu-basha 11
by Mohammed Abu-basha 12
 Donor Consent

• Written consent that allows donor center personnel to collect

and use blood from the prospective donor is required. The
consent form is part of the donor record and must be completed
before donation.

• Wording equivalent in meaning to the following is suggested:

“I have read and understand the information provided to me
regarding the spread of the AIDS virus (HIV) by blood and plasma.
If I am potentially at risk for spreading the virus known to cause
AIDS, I agree not to donate blood or plasma for transfusion to
another person or for further manufacture. I understand that my
blood will be tested for HIV and other disease markers; however,

by Mohammed Abu-basha 13
 there may be unforeseen circumstances
when infectious disease testing may not be performed.
If this testing indicates that I should no longer
donate blood or plasma because of the risk of
transmitting an infectious disease, my name will be entered
on a list of permanently deferred donors.
I understand that I will be notified of a
positive laboratory test result(s). If, instead,
the results of the testing are not clearly negative
or positive, my blood will not be used
and my name may be placed on a deferral list.”

by Mohammed Abu-basha 14
• What does the term “donor deferral” mean?

• Individuals disqualified from donating blood are

known as "deferred" donors.

• A prospective donor may be deferred at any point

during the collection and testing process. Whether
or not a person is deferred temporarily or
permanently will depend on the specific reason
for disqualification (e.g., a person may be deferred
temporarily because of anemia, a condition that is
usually reversible).
by Mohammed Abu-basha 15
• If a person is to be deferred, his or her name is
entered into a list of deferred donors maintained by
the blood center, often known as the "deferral
registry."

• If a deferred donor attempts to give blood before the

end of the deferral period, the donor will not be
accepted for donation.

• Once the reason for the deferral no longer exists and

the temporary deferral period has lapsed, the donor
may return to the blood bank and be re-entered into
the system.
by Mohammed Abu-basha 16
by Mohammed Abu-basha 17
• Those who may be deferred include:

 Anyone who has ever used intravenous drugs (illegal IV drugs)

 Men who have had sexual contact with other men since 1977
 Anyone with a positive test for HIV (AIDS virus)
 Men and women who have engaged in sex for money or drugs
since 1977
 Anyone who has had hepatitis since his or her eleventh
birthday
 Anyone who has had babesiosis or Chagas disease
 Anyone who has taken Tegison for psoriasis
 Anyone who has risk factors for Crueutzfeldt-Jakob disease
(CJD) or who has a blood relative with CJD
 Anyone who has risk factors for vCJD
by Mohammed Abu-basha 18
• If I just received a flu shot, can I donate blood?

 Yes. There is no waiting period to donate after

receiving a flu shot.

• If I have a cold or the flu, can I donate blood?

 In order to donate, blood centers require that you be

in generally good health (symptom-free) and
recommend that you are feeling well.
by Mohammed Abu-basha 19
• Can I still donate if I have high blood pressure?

 Yes, if your blood pressure in under control and within

the limits set in the donation guidelines.

• What if I have anemia?

• You cannot give blood if you have anemia. However, this

can often be a temporary condition. Your hemoglobin will
be tested before you donate to make sure it is at an
acceptable level.
by Mohammed Abu-basha 20
• How can I increase my iron level?

• Donors may be deferred from donating due to a low

hematocrit (iron) level. This restriction is for the safety of
the donor and ensures that after donation, the donor's
hematocrit level will still be within the normal range for
a healthy adult.

• Since hematocrit levels can fluctuate daily, a deferral for

a low hematocrit level does not mean a donor is anemic.
A donor may help increase his or her hematocrit levels
by eating foods high in iron such as red meat, dark green
vegetables and raisins or by taking a multivitamin that
contains iron.
by Mohammed Abu-basha 21
• How long will the actual donation process
take?

• The actual donation takes about 5-10 minutes.

The entire donation process, from registration
to post-donation refreshments, takes about
one hour.

by Mohammed Abu-basha 22
• How Often Can I Donate Whole Blood?

• You must wait 56 days between whole-blood

donations to allow the number of red blood
cells in your body to return to a predonation
level.

by Mohammed Abu-basha 23