O+ for me, O- for Mrs. Butler, and O- for the new butlerette.
I gave last on Tuesday, 4/19. The Red Cross loves me not only due to the frequency of my donations, but also that I have a large quantity of chicken pox anitbodies, which they use (or used to) make VZIG (Verizella Zoster Immune Globulin) which they use to treat pregnant women and leukemia patinets at risk for chicken pox… (or used to).
Either way, I like to donate, as I can make more, and if it helps someone out, all the better!
I just donated again yesterday. I’m O postive, CMV negative. Like sushiwriter said, CMV negative blood is used for babies, especially premature infants. My blood goes to treat babies at St. Jude’s Cancer hospital. If you have CMV negative blood, that means you’ve never had cytomegalovirus and so don’t have the antibodies for it. It’s not a big deal for adults and children, but it can be serious for babies.
-Lil
I used to donate, but cancer put a stop to that. I recently heard though that after 10 years or so they’ll accept blood again. I need to check on that.
If someone donates blood does it make him/her lose weight…like maybe a pound or so? I’m not asking this because I want to lose weight but I thought if you donate blood you’re losing some kind of weight. Maybe half a pound?
How much blood do they take when you do donate?
Do they test for Hepatitis, HIV, ADIS, etc. before they take your blood?
Here’s my biggest question…
What blood types are common among blacks, whites, latinos, asians?
I donated blood a few weeks ago. They took a pint, I believe, which I think is typical.
Weight loss: yes and no. Obviously you immediately lose the amount of the blood loss - that is, if you weighed yourself before and after donating, you’d be lighter. A pint of water weighs just over a pound, and blood is slightly denser than water (that’s a typical check for iron in your blood they’ll run, by the way). So you immediately lose about a pound.
However, that’s not like losing a pound of fat. It’s blood loss, and your body is balanced to maintain a certain proportion of blood to body mass. So as you drink in fluids, your body will quickly replenish the fluid amount in your body; and (more gradually) will make more red blood cells until you’re back where you were.
Tests: yes. They first ask you, and reject your blood if you know you have various things, or even if you’re in high-risk groups. They also tell you (generally give you something written) that they’re going to test for X, Y, and Z (specifically HIV; Hepatitis I think; and some others), and they’ll reject if they find it. They don’t do this while you wait; they take the blood, and a sample to test, which goes to a lab. They throw the blood out later if the test comes back bad.
They also tell you not to donate blood just to get a test for these viruses - there are better ways to get free tests.
Heh, I’ve got the useless AB+, but they don’t know that I’ve caught the Gay. I just told them that I was ineligible to donate, and asked if I could have the free bracelet. Hah.
