Blood Transfusion Requirements Video

If you have had a blood transfusion, learn about donating blood after an transfusion in this free video clip from a blood donation center.

About this Author

Barry Hooker has been working for the American Red Cross for 25 years. Currently, he is the director of recruitment for his region.

Blood transfusions for us at the American Red Cross. We do have you avoid a year after giving transfusion. Even though we know and believe our blood supply's as safe as it can possibly be. There's still that very minute risk that something goes through that is not picked up on a test. Because a test, all tests are not one hundred percent positive or negative. There could be that area in that where it's not showing up yet if you've contracted something. So we make you wait a year. Obviously, one reason is for your benefit. Patient receives blood is honestly or actually sick when they receive the blood. We know there or they wouldn't have received it. So we want to make sure that they're good, they're well healed before they can give again. And also make sure they've not contracted any thing in that blood transfusion they did receive. A lot of folks once they receive the transfusion, it really, really makes you feel better. I've seen it happen in my own life. Not me personally. I've had close relatives and my wife's actually received blood. And once that happens you can just see a rejuvenation come to that person. So we know what good the transfusion does. And we want to make sure and do the right thing and make sure that person's well before they can actually give back again to the blood supply. If you've had transfusions from other countries, you need to let your health professional know about that. If you wanted to give blood to make sure their requirements are our requirements allow that. Some places you can't receive blood and still give after a year and some places you can. This depends, you need to let people know or let your health professionals know whether you wanted to give blood that you have had that transfusion. But again transfusions are the way of life. You know, in the blood products, in the Blood Industry. But it's going to make you wear once you have one.