Blood Donation

[milly143]

I gave another blood donation last night and it got me thinking about what they do with the blood. Of course I know that it's intended use is for transfusions or to be used in medical testing, etc but do they ever have too much? I am A+ which (I think) is the most common type, so do they ever get too many donations of a certain type and have no use for it? Does it have a 'sell-by' date when it's sitting in a container? If so, what do they do with it?

[sara3]

see here.. https://secure.blood.co.uk/c11_cant.asp

you can't give blood if you've had jaundice in the last 12 months.

[f86sabrejet]

55 now so should be ok then! :-)

[sara3]

lol.. hurry up then!

[sara3]

yes, but you're just leering at my bum really ;o)

[mrs.chappie]

I used to go to the local hospital and give blood to be used specifically for operations. As I got a little bit older, ailments got in the way and Transfusion Service stopped calling for me.

I used to like going as it meant that I got a bit of extra time off work. [:o)

[masma]

I managed to get my silver badge then had to give up due to illness, I always felt very proud of myself after giving. I nagged my husband for years to donate but he too had the same old excuse of being scared of needles, then 20 years ago he was diagnosed with diabetes and has to inject 4/5 times a day - sods law me thinks!

[sara3]

mrs.c, I always go in work time, too ;o)

[milly143]

Thanks for all the answers everyone and congrats to all of those who are on their silver and gold medals! I'm a little way off that yet. Beattie189 made me feel a little bit teary actually (I am a soft touch). It's shocking how few people actually do it though. Of course as we have seen here, there are people who wish they could donate but can't but there surely must be millions of people who can donate but don't. I feel like starting a one woman crusade.