# Question about blood donating **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 16, 2005, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-blood-donating/294730 "2005-03-16T00:42:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-blood-donating/294730/1 "2005-03-16T00:42:45Z")
If I donate blood to the Red Cross, they check it for HIV, right? Meaning that if I went and donated blood for the first time at some point last year, then I get a little card in the mail with happiness and sunshine, then I can assume that I’m HIV negative? I ask because if this is true, then I don’t need to drag my ass down to student health services and get one done. (Reason for asking not available.) ---
**Author:** ![mittu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@mittu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mittu)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-blood-donating/294730/2 "2005-03-16T00:48:07Z")
If you are sexually active and have any reason to believe you may have contracted the virus then you should get checked out, relying on results from last year isn’t a wise thing to do. To answer your question yes, a small sample of blood is put aside for testing and the remainder of the blood isn’t used until that sample has been the all clear and yes I would assume that if any problem were found with your blood sample they would inform you. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-blood-donating/294730/3 "2005-03-16T00:51:43Z")
On the other hand, they discourage people from giving that might be HIV positive. The test that they perform isn’t foolproof and it’s possible that you could be infected and infect someone else. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-blood-donating/294730/4 "2005-03-16T00:52:30Z")
The NSW Red Cross checks all donations for HIV, so I imagine the same thing happens at your local blood bank. Only you can know whether your HIV status is likely to have changed since you made your initial donation last year. ---
**Author:** ![easy\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/eb8c5e/32.png) [@easy\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/easy_e)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-blood-donating/294730/5 "2005-03-16T00:57:47Z")
As other posters have said, there is a chance that if you are positive, the test the Red Cross does could come out negative and you could end up infecting someone else. If you’re going to be getting tested at a student health center, I’m sure the cost will be incredibly low (certainly lower than if you were to go to a standard doctor). Planned Parenthood is also an option. There may be special low-cost clinics in your area that exist for this purpose. Be responsible and get tested yourself–don’t rely on the Red Cross to be your blood testing service. ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-blood-donating/294730/6 "2005-03-16T01:24:58Z")
Ok, ok! Tomorrow morning, HIV test. (Actually, if anyone wants to know why, I’m fine with it. I’ll spoiler it because it’s kind of ooky.) My mouth was full when the BF and I were having sex last weekend, and I was only able to mumble-scream that I was coming, so he was unable to get his mouth off. I just want to be absolutely sure that I’m not causing him any danger, even though he is my first sexual contact. ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-blood-donating/294730/7 "2005-03-16T01:27:33Z")
Most if not all blood banks quiz you extensively prior to letting you donate blood. I gave analogous blood prior to surgery on two occasions and they asked me the same questions as all other donors. I inquired if they used that blood for others if it was not used for my surgery and the reply was no. BTW the fixed non-adjustable reclined couches they use here are the most comfortable if not more so that the the brand name top of the line recliners in the furnitures depts. and stores. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-blood-donating/294730/8 "2005-03-16T01:48:44Z")
There are better places to get an HIV test. Please don’t use blood banks for this service. What if you were positive, and your test was false-negative? The blood would get through the screening and given to someone. ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-blood-donating/294730/9 "2005-03-16T02:14:13Z")
I want to emphasize that I had never had sex of any kind, homosexual or otherwise when I donated the blood. This test that I’m looking at getting now is just sort of an absolute feel-good kind of thing (those who read the spoiler will understand.) And if I were even worried about the BF giving it to me, I know that it wouldn’t show up now, since we’ve only been seeing each other for 1.5 months, what with the incubation period or whatever before the antibodies show up. I guess I’ll just wake up early tomorrow and go get tested. Actually, I can’t. I’ll use my 9 AM class that doesn’t exist tomorrow to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-blood-donating/294730/10 "2005-03-16T03:13:07Z")
I used to volunteer for the local bloodbank and I’m pretty close to the 5 gallon mark myself so I’ve read the forms many a time and had to answer a lot of questions. In both states that I’ve donated the forms clearly state a few points: 1. Do not give blood just to get tested. 2. If you think that there is any possibility that your blood might not be suitable for donation, please do not donate. 3. If you are male and have had sex with another male even one time in the last bajillion years, please do not donate. Obviously none of these were an issue for you before you donated the first time; as far as getting tested I’d highly recommend your student health service or the local free clinic (they should both be cheap, free or covered by your student health insurance one way or the other). And good on ya for getting tested - it’s very cool to be looking out for yourself and your partner. ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-blood-donating/294730/11 "2005-03-16T16:06:12Z")
So I go and get the test done today. (Thankfully, the student health center tells me that they only do it on Wednesdays before noon. 🆒 ) YOU GUYS SAID NOTHING ABOUT NEEDLES!!! I was hoping for a “Mr. **Donkey** , please go ejaculate into this cup” or something fun like that. Nope. Huge needle. Took 4 pints of blood, squirted a little bit into a test tube. Thanks, guys. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-blood-donating/294730/12 "2005-03-16T16:15:12Z")
Well, they tried using leeches, but that caused more squeamishness than it solved. Welcome to the 20th century! wait a minute… ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-blood-donating/294730/13 "2005-03-16T16:21:43Z")
They take 4 _pints_ of blood just for an HIV test?! Holy crap, that seems like a lot, since IIRC, you only donate one or two pints at a time when you go to the Red Cross. I assume you must be using a hyperbole, yes? ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-blood-donating/294730/14 "2005-03-16T16:25:07Z")
Yes. It was a syringeful, probably somewhere around 10-25 mL. ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-blood-donating/294730/15 "2005-03-16T16:56:36Z")
Regarding your spoiler (which I wiill also put in a spoiler even though I think everyone should read it in case they are under the same misconception that you are): It sounds like you think that you can only transmit the virus if you have an orgasm? That is completely untrue. Please don’t think that pulling out does any good. You are secreting small amounts of ejaculate long before you ever have an orgasm, and the virus can be passed that way. You might want to look up some info on HIV to see if there is any information that you are unaware of. ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-blood-donating/294730/16 "2005-03-16T19:48:00Z")
Thanks for the information. I knew that already, but I also know that there’s a great deal more substance present at orgasm than before. I was given some pamphlets today when I went, and I recognized all of the info in them, so I do feel pretty informed. ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-blood-donating/294730/17 "2005-03-16T20:23:00Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > They take 4 _pints_ of blood just for an HIV test?! Holy crap, that seems like a lot, since IIRC, you only donate one or two pints at a time when you go to the Red Cross. I assume you must be using a hyperbole, yes? I imagine that was a SLIGHT exaggeration since you only have about 8 pints in your body to begin with 🙂 Donations (at least in the US) are limited to one pint every 56 days. ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2005, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-blood-donating/294730/18 "2005-03-17T03:20:14Z")
So wait: you withdraw before ejaculation to avoid the possibility of giving your boyfriend HIV, which you couldn’t possibly have, him being your first sexual contact? Do you think you might have caught it from a toilet seat or something? Or is this more some weird psychological hangup about sex? ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2005, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-blood-donating/294730/19 "2005-03-17T03:37:24Z")
Putting aside the absurdly improbable odds of you having HIV and not knowing about it isn’t it extremely unlikely to be infected through oral sex? Wouldn’t the giver have to have an open lesion in the mouth? ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2005, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-blood-donating/294730/20 "2005-03-17T12:55:55Z")
> [@treis](#): > > Putting aside the absurdly improbable odds of you having HIV and not knowing about it isn’t it extremely unlikely to be infected through oral sex? Wouldn’t the giver have to have an open lesion in the mouth? It’s definitely lower-risk than a lot of sexual activities, but it definitely has been shown to happen. My WAG is that it would depend upon open wounds in the mouth, as the stomach is clearly a hostile environment for HIV. But small injuries in the mouth are not all that rare, either - ever cut your gums while flossing or brushing? Again, it’s a far lower-risk activity than either vaginal or anal sex, but it can and does transmit the virus. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-blood-donating/294730.md?page=2)