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Blood Donor: Is it safe to donate blood if you have a blood condition?
Blood Cancers & Disorders | Last Active: Dec 23, 2024 | Replies (36)Comment receiving replies
I was diagnosed with Polycythemia Vera 3 years ago. My treatment included regular phlebotomies every couple of weeks during the first 6 or 8 months. It also included medication- (hydroxyurea) - which seemed to stabilize my blood count numbers to where I no longer needed phlebotomy visits . But I’m told that this condition makes me ineligible to donate blood. It really bothered me to watch that bag full of my extracted blood get tossed in the waste bin.
Any idea of any organizations that might have a use for that blood given my condition? Thanks
Replies to "I was diagnosed with Polycythemia Vera 3 years ago. My treatment included regular phlebotomies every couple..."
You have a disease and will always have PV, regardless of your numbers. If you were to donate your blood, there is a good chance you would give someone PV. Would you really be happy to know that?
If they tell you that you cannot donate your blood, they tell you that for a good reason.
While it's nice to want to donate blood and your heart is in the right place, you have to think about what your blood would do to another human being. I don't think you would want that on your conscience.
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@beebo, I can understand not wanting your blood to merely be tossed into the waste bin. It does seems a shame that blood removed during a phlebotomy visit must be discarded. However, safety comes first.
Most blood donation centers and organizations do not take blood from people with blood disorders.