You’re just like me bouv – big veins, can fill the bag in no time. I love the funny looks I get from people who got on the table ten minutes before me, when I’m scarfing down my second cookie as they’re arriving at the snack table. 
As an AB+ though, I’ve got the opposite situation…I can use anyone else’s blood, but only AB+ patients can use mine (about 4% of the population.)
I can donate again June 28th, one year from when I returned from rural Mexico. At least, that’s what they told me when I tried to go in last fall. I usually donate at the university’s blood drive, and I get a different blood center almost every time. I have half a dozen blood donor cards from various places so who knows if they are all on the same page regarding malaria risk.
Well, just got back (well…got back more like an hour ago) from donating. I filled the bag in about five minutes, as per usual. And I got a free Magic Hat pint glass as part of their “pint for a pint”* promotion! It seems they forgot to fill it, though…
*I’m guessing it was just a Burlington area promotion, as every give-away was local. Options included the aforementioned pint glass, a coupon for a free free pint of fries from Al’s French Fries, a container of local honey (it looked to be less than a pint, though…), a free bowl of pasta from a local Italian place, a bag of granola, etc…
I took the glass both because I love Magic Hat beer and have wanted a MH glass for some time now, and because it seemed like it was the most “valuable” one to get.
Oh, you guys are making me feel all schmoopy. Thanks!
From the American Red Cross site’s In-Depth Discussion of Variant Creutzfeld-Jacob Disease and Blood Donation:
So, I’m in the same boat as RNATB, Girl From Mars, and Misnomer. Sorry not to be able to be of help right now, ivylass, but I’ll donate next time I’m back in the UK (needless to say, the eligibility requirements for blood donation are different there).
I’ve been bounced once for low iron, but I was a vegetarian at the time. And subsequently, I’ve been right on the borderline for weight. I’m pretty sure I’m under the catch limit these days, so I don’t donate. If I ever get back up there, I will, though!
To tag onto this discussion, I’m also registered as a bone marrow donor, for the record. If anyone ever needs my particular ethnic mix, I’m their dude. 
If you want to know more about bone marrow donation in the US, go here:National Marrow Donor Program. It costs $50 to do all the paperwork and testing, but if you’re a student or somesuch, chances are the initial fee may be reduced or waived. I’m pretty sure I got signed up at a blood drive while I was in college, myself, since I don’t remember ever shelling out.
FAQ on bone marrow donation for more specific information.
I’m not sure what other countries have in place, but I suspect it’s relatively similar.
B negative, here.
i’m also CMV free, a platelet donor and an on-call donor for the little ones. the indiana blood center *lurves * me.
i think i got up to four gallons - then developed anemia as a result of giving too often so i had to back way down. five weeks of blood transfusions are not only annoying but time consuming!
i’m now restricted to a few times a year and but am actually overdue to donate right now. i’ll go do that this week just for you guys.
Yup. I’m in there, too. 
Wow, really? I give platelets every month, and I prefer it to giving blood. It takes a long time, but I used to get a bit queasy after giving blood, and that doesn’t happen with platelets.
Now that’s a cool promotion! Although I did get a $10 gas card once, so that could be the same “pint for a pint”…
I would love to, but when I was just 2 donations from a gallon pin when they discovered I have an anti-platelet antibody. My blood isn’t worth anything to anyone but me.
Anti-platelet antibody? How does that work? 
So – the antibody attacks anyone else’s platelets in favor of your own platelets? How does one develop such an antibody since I assume it wasn’t there before?