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Blood Donor: Is it safe to donate blood if you have a blood condition?
Blood Cancers & Disorders | Last Active: Apr 30, 2023 | Replies (16)Comment receiving replies
Yes you can just donate blood. My hematologist said that’s what he tells his PV patients to do. Just go donate w/out mention of your PV. I was exposed to Hepatitis, and carry immunity but am not allowed to donate. I have to pay almost $400 a pop for each phlebotomy.
Replies to "Yes you can just donate blood. My hematologist said that’s what he tells his PV patients..."
@nypara66, I have to agree with Lori. When donating blood, one should be honest about their health status and any health conditions they have.
@beebo, as someone who also abhors waste, it does seems a shame that blood removed during a phlebotomy visit must be discarded. Safety is paramount.
Most blood donation centers and organizations do not take blood from people with blood disorders. You can ask your hospital.
@nypara66 After my Systemic Lupus diagnosis in 1988, I was advised to not donate blood any longer. That was a sad time for me, as I also had just found out I was a match to be a bone marrow donor for someone in need. We decided it was in everyone's safety and best interest that my blood products not be considered. I would never want to knowingly donate an unsafe product, nor expose anyone to to less-than-perfect blood products!
In 2016 my husband received a deceased donor kidney. In the middle of 2017 his transplant team called him in a panic, as the other kidney recipient from the same donor had contracted Hepatitis C. Everyone was tested, and it was discovered the other kidney recipient had latent Hepatitis C. While they were relieved to find this out, the transplant team certainly had a scare, thinking their donor has passed something on to the recipients!
Ginger
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@nypara66
Most of the time persons with blood disorders such as polycythemia or hemochromatosis are disqualified as blood donors. Polycythemia Vera (PV) is considered a myeloproliferative neoplastic disease, a condition from a group of blood cancers in which the bone marrow produces too many blood cells, either Red, White or platelets. PV is one of the conditions not allowed for donations at Red Cross blood centers.
I’m really surprised that your hematologist would tell patients with a blood cancer to donate blood but be deceitful about it. The fact that your doctor even mentions ‘don’t tell anyone’ says it’s not the right nor ethical decision. Would you want to receive blood under these circumstances? This makes me cringe on several levels. And you trust this doctor with your life?