# Donating Blood To Obtain Free Health Care

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donating-blood-to-obtain-free-health-care/140055>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 2, 2002, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donating-blood-to-obtain-free-health-care/140055 "2002-12-02T22:36:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Surreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Surreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surreal)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donating-blood-to-obtain-free-health-care/140055/1 "2002-12-02T22:36:22Z")

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I would like to know more about the tests that are run on donated blood samples. Is it true that the blood is screened for every disease or condition for which a blood test exists? How much $$$$ would this type of analysis cost if you had it done in a regular hospital??

Is there also a free physical exam that comes with it? Is it done by an M.D.??

Thanks.

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**Author:** ![RufusLeaking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c5a1d2/32.png) [@RufusLeaking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RufusLeaking)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donating-blood-to-obtain-free-health-care/140055/2 "2002-12-02T22:50:42Z")

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No they do not give you a physical exam when you donate blood. They take your blood pressure and check iron content to be sure you are not anemic. You fill out a long questionaire that helps screen out donors that have a high risk of having diseases that would be passed on to the recipient. One of the questions they ask is whether the reason you are donating is to have your blood tested for any of these diseases. Of course they test the blood before giving it to someone else. Please don’t donate blood for this reason! If you need free health care ask around and see if there is a free clinic in your area.

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**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donating-blood-to-obtain-free-health-care/140055/3 "2002-12-03T02:06:46Z")

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[Tests performed on donated blood.](http://www.bloodbook.com/test-donated.html)

Google is your friend.

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**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donating-blood-to-obtain-free-health-care/140055/4 "2002-12-03T04:19:57Z")

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I once had a to-be girlfriend that asked me for a blood test before we were intimate. Since I donate blood on a fairly regular basis, I called the blood bank I had donated to and asked for a copy of the screening results.

The next week, I showed her the results. She was quite impressed, as the tests she had done weren’t so thourough.

After that, we were free to exchange other body fluids. :D:D:D

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**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donating-blood-to-obtain-free-health-care/140055/5 "2002-12-03T04:35:11Z")

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My father died of Hepatitis C acquired from donated blood, back before Hep C was known to exist. I miss him terribly. Please do not donate blood as a substitute for a physical exam.