# Blood donation - whole blood, platelets, or power red?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-donation-whole-blood-platelets-or-power-red/850110>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 23, 2020, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-donation-whole-blood-platelets-or-power-red/850110 "2020-03-23T18:09:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\
**Post date:** [March 26, 2020, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-donation-whole-blood-platelets-or-power-red/850110/21 "2020-03-26T18:29:48Z")

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Like many older women, Mom already has a hard time getting enough calcium. Just sticking with whole blood might well be the best choice for her.

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**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2020, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-donation-whole-blood-platelets-or-power-red/850110/22 "2020-03-28T14:10:13Z")

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At yesterday’s blood donation a sign had been posted asking donors with O+, O-, A-, or B- blood types to donate a Power Red if possible. I did the Power Red. Pretty quick and easy, but I’ve done them before and never had a problem. I do get a little tingling from the citrate reaction but knowing what to expect I’m not bothered by it.

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**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2020, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-donation-whole-blood-platelets-or-power-red/850110/23 "2020-03-29T15:51:47Z")

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> [@GaryM](#):
>
> You are CMV Negative:  
> ““CMV negative” means you have never been infected with cytomegalovirus. For most people with healthy immune systems, infection with CMV or not is usually of little consequence, but people with damaged or immature (like newborns) immune systems are susceptible to life-threatening CMV infection.” (from a Google search)
> 
> I am, or was, the same way and donated platelets on a regular basis for about 11 years.

Yes, you have “baby blood”. Very very important blood during disasters since while it is critical for newborns, it can be quickly used by a lot of people who normally have complications.

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**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2020, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-donation-whole-blood-platelets-or-power-red/850110/24 "2020-03-29T19:45:27Z")

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As I had said before, I’ve been told I can no longer donate blood due to a combination of persistent anemia and fatty liver disease. (In fact, three weeks ago I had to go in and get an infusion of red blood cells because my blood iron count was so low.) I’m assuming this also means that I can no longer donate platelets; I hadn’t thought to ask about that.

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