Nervous about blood donating...

6 years ago

The red cross in our state desperately needs blood as they've had to cancel the drives. They are asking that you make an appointment for a blood draw at one of their centers. But how would I know if I've gotten the disease and am asymptomatic? Until they can test me, I'd hate to be responsible for giving someone in desperate medical condtion tainted blood.

It's a conundrum.

Featured Answer

morz8 - Washington Coast

6 years ago

The Red Cross has implemented new measures to ensure blood drives and
donation centers are even safer for our donors and staff, including:

Checking the temperature of staff and donors before entering a drive to make sure they are healthy
Providing hand sanitizer for use before the drive, as well as throughout the donation process
Spacing beds, where possible, to follow social distancing practices between blood donors, and
Increasing enhanced disinfecting of surfaces and equipment.

At each blood drive and donation center, Red Cross employees already
follow thorough safety protocols to help prevent the spread of any type
of infection, including:

Wearing gloves and changing gloves with each donor
Routinely wiping down donor-touched areas
Using sterile collection sets for every donation, and
Preparing the arm for donation with an aseptic scrub

There is no data or evidence that this coronavirus can be transmitted
by blood transfusion, and there have been no reported cases of
transfusion transmission for any respiratory virus including this
coronavirus worldwide.

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Comments (14)

jtc
6 years ago
I heard the virus cannot be spread through blood.
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arcy_gw
6 years ago
Donations are waaaay down and our blood banks were already pretty sparse so this is a huge deal. I can't give again for another month but will ASAP. The need is greater than the fear around this.
Annie Deighnaugh
Original Author
6 years ago
OK, thanks for the info. The FDA says they have no known cases of transfer of the disease via blood transfusion, but that they don't know about covid-19 but in general respiratory illnesses are not transferable.
Elmer J Fudd
6 years ago
I'd call the local facility and ask about their location, their staff and physical precautions taken to protect donors and keep them segregated. Then it's up to you to decide if that information does or doesn't make you feel comfortable.
maifleur03
6 years ago
Since most non-essential operations are on hold the blood would be used by someone that needs it. Even infected blood since little is known at this time could mean extended life for someone. Because of my age I can not give but admire those especially at times like this that are willing to do so.

As has been mentioned by real experts most people will eventually have the virus. There will be some that are naturally immune. The premise for not going out in public is to lessen the impact on hospitals and other care situations.
morz8 - Washington Coast
6 years ago
All blood banks seem to be putting out emergency request for donors. The 'drives' have all been cancelled due to groups congregating of more than 10, and individual donations down so much that they are in critical need.

There will still be accidents, emergency necessary surgeries, heart issues, problem births. The banks need blood if anyone is able and willing and would not be compromising themselves by going out.
Bluebell66
6 years ago
I just donated two days ago. Tainted blood aside, I was very impressed with the precautions they took and felt completely safe. The first thing they did when I walked in was take my temp, and proceeded from there.
User
6 years ago
They will check your blood. Please donate. Hospitals need it now more than ever.
sephia_wa
6 years ago
All blood is screened after a donation to ensure there isn't anything wrong with it. Like someone may have HIV and not know it. If HIV is detected, the person would be notified.

I'm donating today.
jewels_ks
6 years ago
I did the fast pass online today and then it had you call for an appointment. I was 103rd in line on the phone que.
Elmer J Fudd
6 years ago
queue
Annie Deighnaugh
Original Author
6 years ago
I understand that the screen the blood for what they can, but they don't screen it for everything. If we can't get cv-19 test kits, I doubt they can test the blood either.
grapefruit1_ar
6 years ago
I volunteer at our local Red Cross blood drives ( every other month). Our most recent one was on Tuesday, The Red Cross staff did take the temperature of every potential donor, but they did not take the temperature of the volunteers, nor did I note any other precautions. The donors sat side-by- side as they waited to be called, there was no hand sanitizer that I saw, they shared the required reading material, they sat at the same canteen table, etc. I was surprised when I later read about the new “ measures” being employed. That memo never made it to our town!

Nervous about blood donating...

morz8 - Washington Coast

Comments (14)

jtc

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