Blood Donation
Every two seconds, someone in America needs blood. Only 5% of eligible donors actually give, which means chronic shortages are a permanent feature of the blood supply. These guides cover who can donate, what the process involves, and how autologous (self-donated) blood works for planned surgeries.
Autologous Blood Donation: All 5 Types, Procedures, and Storage Explained
Complete guide to autologous blood donation — all 5 types including preoperative donation, intraoperative salvage, hemodilution, and long-term frozen storage. Eligibility, risks, and when each method applies.
- ✓ Autologous blood transfusion is the safest form — it eliminates immune reactions and donor-transmitted disease risk
- ✓ Five methods exist: preoperative donation, intraoperative salvage, postoperative salvage, hemodilution, and long-term frozen storage
- ✓ Approximately 643,000 autologous donations occur in the U.S. annually
Blood Donation Requirements and Eligibility: Complete Guide
Full blood donation eligibility criteria — age, weight, health conditions, medications, travel deferrals, and how often you can donate whole blood, plasma, and platelets.
- ✓ Basic requirements: at least 17 years old, weigh 110+ pounds, and be in good health on the day of donation
- ✓ Whole blood donors must wait 56 days (8 weeks) between donations
- ✓ Only 5% of eligible Americans donate blood, yet over 80% of blood used comes from repeat donors