The Donation Process
There are many different ways to donate the life-saving blood products that patients depend on. The most common donation is whole blood donation, but many people choose to do Automated Blood Collection (ABC) or to donate marrow. Giving whole blood and doing ABC follow the same basic steps (listed below), but are slightly different.
After your blood is drawn, it goes to the testing and processing lab at our Hillview Center. The tests we do take about 48 hours. After that, the blood is driven by courier to one of our area hospitals. Your blood could save someone's life within a couple days of your donation!
To give blood you must be at least 17 years of age, or 16 with parental consent, weigh at least 110 lbs., be in good health, and have eaten prior to donating. From start to finish, giving blood consists of four easy steps.
1. Registration
When you arrive at the blood drive or at our Donor Center, a receptionist will take your name, address, telephone number, and verify identification. At this time you will also be asked to read donor education material and fill out a Medical History Form to determine your eligibility.
2. Medical History
We will take your blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and a drop of blood to test your hemoglobin level to make sure you are eligible to give blood. You will also be asked confidential questions about your medical history to be sure that the donation is safe for you and that your blood is safe to transfuse to others.
3. The Donation
After preparing the venipuncture site, we will insert a needle. You should feel only a slight pinch. The needle is sterile, is used only once and then discarded. Approximately one pint of blood is drawn through the needle into a plastic bag. The entire whole blood donation only takes 5 to 10 minutes. There is no risk of contracting any disease from donating blood.
4. Rest & Refreshments
After the blood donation is complete, you will be asked to rest for 15 minutes and eat some light refreshments before resuming your normal activities. Most donors experience no ill effects. It is especially important to increase your fluid intake following a donation. The fluid lost in the donation is replaced in 24 hours and the red cells are replaced in 8 weeks. For this reason, you must wait 8 weeks between whole blood donations.
Post-donation
Please leave a message on our post-donation callback line at (650) 725-9968 if you:
- Donated but later feel that your blood should not be given to a patient
- Are not sure that your blood is safe
- Become ill within 24 hours after your donation
- Develop a fever of 100.5 degrees or higher within two (2) weeks of your donation and you have no specific diagnosis
- Become ill within two (2) weeks of your donation and are diagnosed by a physician as having West Nile Virus infection