Blood typing?

[DD]

I'm 0-. I only know that cause each time I had a child, they gave me that pucking shot that hurt like hail. Needle was at least twelve inches long and a quarter inch in diameter. That's why I quit having kids.

 

[Poodleone]

Why, thank you! I didn't realize pos and neg were called Rh. Poodleone, are you a medical professional? What are the current reserves? Or, do you receive national numbers like this? Thank you for helping me on this!

Yes, I am a medical technologist and have worked in laboratories for 28 years. There are no specific national numbers since the US blood supply is regional and fluctuates daily.

What is the percentage of the population that meets all the qualification to donate blood?


Some of the criteria is a bit outdated IMO (for instance the one that no gay men can donate) and changing it would up the donations.

Here's an interesting link to FAQ at the AABB (American Association of Blood Banks. According to them approximately 38 percent of people are eligible- less than 10 percent donate. It varies from region to region.

Blood FAQ

It isn't specific to gay men- just one of the criteria to avoid transmitting sexual diseases through blood transfusion. Here's a partial list of deferrals relating to risky behaviors

have ever used needles to take drugs, steroids, or anything not prescribed by your doctor
are a male who has had sexual contact with another male, even once, since 1977
have ever taken money, drugs or other payment for sex since 1977
have had sexual contact in the past 12 months with anyone described above
received clotting factor concentrates for a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia
were born in, or lived in, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea,Gabon, Niger, or Nigeria, since 1977.
since 1977, received a blood transfusion or medical treatment with a blood product in any of these countries, or
had sex with anyone who, since 1977, was born in or lived in any of these countries

When I had a bone graft, my surgeon instructed me to give a couple of pints of my own blood, just in case! I think blood banks can hold your own in reserves? Poodleone?

Being underweight, they wouldn't allow you to give.......this is no longer my issue! But, I'm not sure what guidelines they go by now.

Good thread!

It is called autologous blood and can be held for short periods of time at the expense of the donor. It is not indefinite and fortunately this practice has decreased tremendously over the years as the blood supply has become even safer.



Most blood services use 110 pounds- those days are gone for me as well ! ;-)

Type O blood is the universal blood. It can be given to people with other blood types. It's not necessarily rare when people aren't giving as much (that's a given) so much as it is that type O blood gets used more often. Out of B? Reach for O. Out of A? Reach for O.

Too bad type O people can get only type O.

Yep that's the issue- you don't want to use O's for all types of people because when you need O you NEED O! I am always discomforted by the phrase "universal donor" since it is a bit of a misnomer.

 

[Poodleone]

I'm 0-. I only know that cause each time I had a child, they gave me that pucking shot that hurt like hail. Needle was at least twelve inches long and a quarter inch in diameter. That's why I quit having kids.

You gotta love those Rhogam shots

I am amazed when I think how my mom (B neg) managed to have 4 kids in the 50's, before Rhogam, and never developed the anti-D antibody- Pure Luck.

 

[Poodleone]

Must have changed in the last several years. I've had my blood typed before donating, but haven't been able to give blood for quite some time because I spend time in the UK (mad cow and all). BTW, I'm O+

.

I'll never say never on the blood typing but will say it isn't common practice ;-)

Yeah, the UK thing is a little tricky- the time spent is cumulative and mainly covering 1980-1996 or blood transfusion there. I can give because I was only there 10 days last September. I'm O pos as well. Gave blood today and feel great!

 

[HandymanConnect]

Yes, there is a place for labs

Hi,
There is a place that does all sorts of lab work and immunizations. I checked with them and they do blood typing. The name of the company is Professional Health Examiners. They are located on Mack Bayou Rd. and their number is 267-0360. FYI, they don't take insurance, but their prices are very reasonable.
Good luck!

 

[Miss Critter]

Maybe these guys.

www.sowal.com/bb/health-wellness/37254-affordable-lab-work.html

Hi,
There is a place that does all sorts of lab work and immunizations. I checked with them and they do blood typing. The name of the company is Professional Health Examiners. They are located on Mack Bayou Rd. and their number is 267-0360. FYI, they don't take insurance, but their prices are very reasonable.
Good luck!

You both were right. We haven't been yet, but their price for blood typing is only $33. Thanks!