Does anyone know if blood donation places check with each other?

[bioshocked]

Thanks for the replies. The last 2 donations I did, my iron was around 14 to 15%, so not too high or low to donate. last RBC numbers were at the high end of normal. Will find out this week on new numbers. I would never donate while sick or with anything that would hurt anyone. My next blood work should show me if I am stable with my numbers with donating every 56 days. Hopefully the answer is yes because I really would rather donate less often Was hoping to get it down to only donating 3 to 4 times a year. I am worried about scaring with that huge needle. I hate that needle. I would rather sit there twice as long and have a smaller needle.

[Mr.BB]

Thanks for the replies. The last 2 donations I did, my iron was around 14 to 15%, so not too high or low to donate. last RBC numbers were at the high end of normal. Will find out this week on new numbers.

Iron in body is measured by the ferritin test which gives you an estimate of the "iron stock level" and is measured in ng/dl.

When you say "14 to 15%" you most likely are talking about hemoglobin, which is the protein from the RBC that carries the oxigen. Hemoglobin is measured in g/dl, its not a percentage.

With a 14 to 15 g/dl hemoglobin there is no need to donate blood. If you want to do it for humanitarian reasons go ahead, but know that too much donations will deplete you iron (ferritin) levels and your body needs this iron everyday to renew the RBCs. This depletion will cause RBCs malformations and ultimately anemia (low hemoglobin).

You only need to donate (for health reasons) if your hematocrit gets elevated. Understand that hematocrit is different than hemoglobin and iron, but of course, still related. If your hemoglobin is high, your hematocrit will be high, but if your hemoglobin is normal and hematocrit is high it probably means you are dehydrated (low water intake makes blood go thicker, go figure lol).

In many parts of the world donations are only allowed every 3 months, and for good reasons as explained above.

If your hematocrit is below 50%, which seriously doubt if your hemoglobin is 15g/dl, you dont need to donate. If your ferritin is low you should even let the hamatocrit climb a bit more before thinking of donating.

Post your bloodwork if you have doubts.