Giving blood

DaveyL

Probably some really stupid questions here, but what happens when you go to give blood? I've never done it before, but have the chance to do so at work tomorrow. Do they analyse your blood at all, or tell you anything? Maybe even measure your hematocrit? I don't think it's Dr Fuentes who's coming

phil s

Ask Vino :twisted:

Alex_Simmons/RST

They will (or should!) screen your blood for blood type, blood cell counts and to ensure it is safe to use (screening for blood diseases and those that can be transmitted by transfusion). I'm not sure what happens in different countries as to the information provided to the donor.

Here in Australia the donor will be informed of any abnormalities usually within about 2 weeks. No-one is paid to donate blood here.

As an aside, blood donation has a significant negative effect on cycling performance as it can take up to six weeks to replenish the red blood cells. While a good thing for the community, it isn’t much help for cycling performance.

BeaconRuth

After you've filled in all the paperwork and told them you're feeling fit and well several times, they do a test for the amount of iron in your blood. This is a pin prick in your thumb, before you get to the lying down on a bed bit. Over the years I've been turned down a couple of times at that point, but us girlies can be a bit susceptible to ending up with low iron levels. Most blokes probably pass no probs.

Then they take you to a bed and you lie down and they take the half litre or so of blood, along with filling up a few small vials for testing. I'm sure they test for HIV but what else they test for I don't know. But also, I've never heard of anyone getting any results of those tests. As a donor you (generally) don't come away with any info except that you've passed a very simple iron-level test.

After you've given them the armful they want, they let you have a sit down, give you a nice cup of tea and some biscuits and you go happily on your way having done your bit for mankind................. unless you're training to get fit for something, in which case you're better off keeping all your blood for yourself.

Ruth

DaveyL

Thanks for the info, all. No surprise that there will be a drop in performance when they take your blood out. I heard that when you get back up to full volume, the new blood is "better" (I guess in terms of amount or age or red blood cells) than the old and you actually get a little performance gain, say about 4 weeks after giving blood.

DaveyL

I should add that this was a throwaway remark by a guy called Dr Mac Larsen, during a Competitors Radio interview about doping. He was part of a test in the 80s where a bunch of runners had some blood re-infused and he went from 16:30 for 5 k to 16:00 in the space of a few days, with a blood transfusion.

Bronzie

I only give blood in the off season (October-January) as I find it wipes me out for a couple of weeks at least and I always seem to pick up a bug after giving blood (lowered immune system or coincidence?). So I only donate once a year in general.

I think they screen for Hepatitis, HIV and several other blood borne diseases, but if you read all of the "Please don't give blood if you have..................." conditions, the chances of you sucessfully donating and still having a blood disease that you are not aware of are pretty slim I think.

They recently asked me to become a platelet donor (taken every 6 weeks) because I "have good veins" but I'm relieved to say my platelets were not up to scratch :roll:

pedylan

What Ruth says is all correct.

All you'll get on the day is a pinprick iron test which'll immediately tell you if you're aneamic in which case you'll get turned away.

You will get to know your blood group and that's about it. The screens for hepatitis and Aids will only be communicated to you in the event of bad news!

The health and sexual habits questionaire will be about the most intrusive experience ever!

I never notice any effect on cycling or sport IF i feel well. If you've got a latent bug then the combination of it and giving blood can have an unpleasant effect which I've noticed a couple of times - it'll take longer to get over.

Blood donors are getting scarcer so well done and keep at it.

skavanagh.bikeradar

I gave blood a few weeks ago after a period of training well (and hard) and generally I'd say I didn't notice any ill effects on or off the bike.

bahzob

skavanagh.bikeradar wrote:

I gave blood a few weeks ago after a period of training well (and hard) and generally I'd say I didn't notice any ill effects on or off the bike.

Ditto above. Next donation Monday.

woody-som

after the 1st time, the whole process is quicker on the subsequent visits. Just give blood, and hope everyone else will be kind enough to do the same, you never know, you may need it yourself one day, what with some stupid car driver.

beccalily

I cant give blood because of tattoo's/piercings.

gr033y

I give blood and i have not noticed any decrease in my cycling performance afterwards although i do lay off training for 48 hrs.

Did have a bad experience once when i didnt clot properly after and bled all over the floor in the tea and cake room. They had to de-contaminate the area like in a movie!

Its a great thing giving blood and more people should do it.