Why are healthy persons weighing less than 110 lbs. not eligible as blood donors?
There is about a 1 in 20 chance that a donor may faint during or after blood donations. In many cases this is related to the fall in blood volume associated with donation. Since blood volume is proportional to body weight, smaller persons have a greater % of their blood volume removed. Therefore they are at increased risk of these reactions and should not donate. Exceptions are made for persons donating for themselves prior to planned surgery. In this case the volume of blood collected is reduced, proportional to their weight.
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- Why are healthy persons weighing less than 110 lbs. not eligible as blood donors?
