Are blood products perishable?
Yes. When refrigerated, red blood cells can be stored for up to 42 days. Plasma is frozen and stored for up to one year. Platelets can be stored for only five days. Are the health history questions necessary every time? The Food and Drug Administration requires that all blood centers ask about your medical history every time you donate to ensure the safety of the blood supply. You have to wait at least eight weeks before donating again. A lot can happen in that time. The questions serve as a layer of protection for patients who receive blood. Are the health history questions and my test results confidential? Your answers and test results will be kept confidential, except where required by law. STBTC maintains strict privacy guidelines for all blood donor records. I was deferred for low iron (hemoglobin) count. How can I increase it? Eating a consistent iron-rich diet including foods such as red meat, dark green vegetables and dried fruits, will help increase iron levels. For more infor
