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

[bioshocked]

I am getting BW done again soon and wondering if I need to donate blood more often than every 8 weeks. At the same time, I don't want to donate more than every 8 weeks. Those needles are huge and 6 times a year sounds excessive to me. But then I was wondering if I could even donate more frequently anyway? In my area I have United Blood and Red Cross. I am wondering if they report to some central system. So if I don't wait 8 weeks with United Blood and go to Red Cross, will they see that I donated with the other company and deny me? Has anyone donated more frequently than 8 weeks?

Also, the double red cell donation is like every 156 days or something. But seems I would build up more RBCs than I want in 156 days. Well, I guess I shouldn't think about it too much until I get my new blood work.

[Tlolec the toilet]

they will check your heme (hemoglobin.) i don't know much but i think that's iron in your blood. Anyways if it's over 20% they will turn you away, but some places allow a little higher i think. mine was 15%. just answer 'no' to every question, but if you are sick don't go because it could potentially kill the person getting the blood. a little gear wont hurt though

do it yourself! looks fun doesn't it.
make sure to that you are prepared if turned away. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fI9Q...layer_embedded

[almostgone]

I am getting BW done again soon and wondering if I need to donate blood more often than every 8 weeks. At the same time, I don't want to donate more than every 8 weeks. Those needles are huge and 6 times a year sounds excessive to me. But then I was wondering if I could even donate more frequently anyway? In my area I have United Blood and Red Cross. I am wondering if they report to some central system. So if I don't wait 8 weeks with United Blood and go to Red Cross, will they see that I donated with the other company and deny me? Has anyone donated more frequently than 8 weeks?

Also, the double red cell donation is like every 156 days or something. But seems I would build up more RBCs than I want in 156 days. Well, I guess I shouldn't think about it too much until I get my new blood work.

Whole blood = every 56 days
Double RBC = every 112 days

Get your lab values to see your Hct and Hgb values. Nothing wrong with donating regularly, it's a great thing. On the other hand, if you don't replenish quickly, you can end up screwing yourself with frequent donations.
Don't know about trying to donate @ 2 different associations, I've never tried it.

[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.

[Charlie6]

No, different donation organizations do not typically cross reference each other. I had to donate two times within 8 weeks once, and I had no problem. In my city there are two major ones (one being red cross) and I had no problem going from one right to the other.

[kelkel]

Most people really do not need to donate every 56 days. Be careful getting into the habit of doing so for the many reasons BB so eloquently stated. You may also consider titrating your dose down a bit which may help to alleviate the problem. It's not uncommon for older guys to drive themselves into anemia by frequent donations. If you do "have" to regularly donate consider taking an iron supplement.

Iron status of regular voluntary blood donors