I am a PhD student and work in my group is to do with platelets. In the last month I have had blood drawn from my arm twice (80mls and then 60mls) as well as a routine blood test for Hep B titre (this was one week after i gave blood the first time around). How long should I wait till I give blood again? Frankly i'm thinking of saying 'No' from now on purely i'm getting irritated with the frequency of request (however polite) for blood and somehow it feels a little unethical?? i may be wrong... i did think that we should all have taps attached to us... so can anyone answer my qn? Any docs around??
2006-12-06 23:49:06 · 13 answers · asked by Curious kitten! 2 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
Hmm. That's a fairly modest amount of blood which a healthy person could probably loose daily for a while without too much problem. Over a period of weeks or months though you could become anemic (low blood count). If you are donating blood for research purposes, you institution should have a policy. Human research is (almost) as tightly regulated animal research.
If you are doing research on human blood, I assume that you either have or have access to a centrifuge to do hematocrits. So when and if you become anemic by hematocrit, you could stop donating for a month or two.
Also, if you are donating frequently, taking iron is a good idea.
As far as ethics, certainly as a student in a lab there is some element of coercion in requiring you to donate. On the other hand, there is a long tradition of biomedical researchers using themselves or their own tissues as sources for research.
2006-12-07 00:00:50 · answer #1 · answered by Jeffrey P 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Small amounts of blood amounting to 2 to 3 tbs (60 to 90 ml) may be withdrawn every 1 to 2 weeks without causing harm. Even at that level however you may eventually not be able to produce enough blood to replace the amount withdrawn. For those who donate whole blood at a blood center the general rule is no more frequent than 6 to 8 weeks. Blood 'letting' was amongst the most popular of medical interventions from antiquity until the mid 1800s. George Washington was ill with pneumonia and likely would have died anyway but the physicians in attendence removed approximately 80% of his circulating blood volume over a period of 5 days resulting in his demise. Good luck with your studies.
2006-12-07 00:00:25 · answer #2 · answered by john e russo md facm faafp 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am not a Doctor, bit I know that when I give blood, they told me that the plasma will be back in 72 hours, however the platelets will take 1-3 months to build back up, depending on many different factors. The American Red Cross will only let you give blood once every three months, is what I am told.
2006-12-06 23:55:14 · answer #3 · answered by Smiley 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Honey thats fine...i worked in a hospital and we drew blood off of people up to 2 times/day!! Doctors would order blood tests and then 2 hours later order more!! Dont worry, within 7 days the blood that was taken is replaced. When giving to the red cross, you can give 1 pint every three months!
2006-12-07 00:01:23 · answer #4 · answered by Kimberly M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Every three months , if it is whole blood (450 ml per donation) . You said 60 and 80 ml. This depends upon your blood composition, if it is within normal limits. People who used your blood are thankful that you donated and helped them out. And do you know that donating blood could help in the "rejuvenation" of your cells? That is if you are fit enough. If you feel not comfortable donating every now and then , then perhaps you could do it, every year. You can inform them that you prefer doing it every year only. I am sure they will understand. It should be voluntary in the first place.
2006-12-07 00:02:23 · answer #5 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on what the tests are for and how much is being taken at one go. Patients receiving anti-coagulant therapy for INR will have their blood taken everyday until the right level is achieved. But that means only taking 3mls.
FBC & U+E require 4 and 8mls respectively and can be performed everyday, along with INR.
2006-12-06 23:56:18 · answer #6 · answered by The Alchemist 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am not a doctor but I am a part of Red Cross Youth in our country.
The thing is that it depends on the body type but usually, you could do it thrice a year, a bag every three months.That is the maximum.
Please don't overdo it but thank you 'cause when you are giving your blood, it really save lives...
Take care
2006-12-06 23:54:06 · answer #7 · answered by Iggie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know for blood drives they say don't give more than once a month.
2006-12-06 23:54:08 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If Count Dracula draws the blood , it's every night, if it is anyone else, it's every month.
2006-12-06 23:51:44 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on one's health and the amount drawn.
2006-12-06 23:58:44 · answer #10 · answered by Always Can 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋