To those who give blood....

[jagec]

I can't give blood since I grew up overseas and have been back there within the last ~3 years...but I HAVE donated plasma, apparently the conditions aren't as strict, so I guess I've probably saved someone's life.

Granted, I got paid. But people are still grateful to doctors, right? right?

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Originally posted by: Cougar

Originally posted by: PlasticJesus
Finally gave blood about 2 months ago at a bloodmobile. Got tired of saying I should do it and actually did.

Interestingly enough, when the blood center sent me the card giving the blood type and cholesterol count the card read blood type of A+. I've always been A-.

Called them and said "I've always been A-". The lady asked me if the military told me that and I said yes and she told me it happens all the time. Couldn't understand whether she meant military is bad at typing blood or used to be bad. She said definitely A+ and apparently A+ can take A- so it didn't matter anyway.

As for original poster, I don't know what your condition is, but I sure hope things work out for you.

Maybe since A- and A+ are compatible the military doesn't take much time to differentate between the 2?

As for my condition, I posted it in this thread. It hasn't been easy but I survive. It looks like things are gonna get more complicated as the years pass but I'll manage. Heck, I've made it this far so that's got to count for something.

A- can give to A- and A+, but can only recieve from A- or O-.
A+ can only give to A+ and AB+, but can recieve from A+, A-, O+, and O-
I would think they would need to be able to differentiate.

 

[Riprorin]

The Red Cross won't take my blood anymore because I've spent too much time in Europe.

 

[Riprorin]

Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend

Originally posted by: Cougar

Originally posted by: PlasticJesus
Finally gave blood about 2 months ago at a bloodmobile. Got tired of saying I should do it and actually did.

Interestingly enough, when the blood center sent me the card giving the blood type and cholesterol count the card read blood type of A+. I've always been A-.

Called them and said "I've always been A-". The lady asked me if the military told me that and I said yes and she told me it happens all the time. Couldn't understand whether she meant military is bad at typing blood or used to be bad. She said definitely A+ and apparently A+ can take A- so it didn't matter anyway.

As for original poster, I don't know what your condition is, but I sure hope things work out for you.

Maybe since A- and A+ are compatible the military doesn't take much time to differentate between the 2?

As for my condition, I posted it in this thread. It hasn't been easy but I survive. It looks like things are gonna get more complicated as the years pass but I'll manage. Heck, I've made it this far so that's got to count for something.

A- can give to A- and A+, but can only recieve from A- or O-.
A+ can only give to A+ and AB+, but can recieve from A+, A-, O+, and O-
I would think they would need to be able to differentiate.

I'm O+ but I'm considered a "rare" donor apparently because I have very few antigens. Do you understand the nature of the interaction between blood antigens and antibodies?

I assume that being O+ combined with having few antigens makes me a good universal donor.

 

[Kntx]

B-

No one can use my blood!! hahah!!!

 

[DanTMWTMP]

O's are universal doners i think.

I'm A+. What's wierd is that on my birth cert, i have O, and during high school when I gave blood for the first time, they told me I had A+. So I donno what blood I have really hahaha.

i haven't given blood for a year, but i have been giving at least once a year since middle of high school.
Hehe, time to start giving blood again. Just that i had a bad experience the last time i did it. I actually got super woozy and didn't recover for a couple days. I've given blood many times prior to that, but that time..ugh.

Anyways, time to give out again

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Originally posted by: Riprorin


I'm O+ but I'm considered a "rare" donor apparently because I have very few antigens. Do you understand the nature of the interaction between blood antigens and antibodies?

I assume that being O+ combined with having few antigens makes me a good universal donor.

I understand antigens and antibodies quite well, as my Microbiology research paper was on autoimmunological diseases. You need to understand that a person with Rh- blood will develop Rh antibodies if he/she recieves Rh+ blood (it takes time for the antibodies to develop, so while the first transfusion may not have any negative effects, it will happen with reoccuring transfusions), and the result is agglutination. Agglutination won't always happen, but it can be fatal if it does. We can get into the polygenetic inheritance of Rh, but it doesn't make a difference since + and - is determined only by the D-antigen.

 

[bigredguy]

hmm... been about 8 weeks, i should see about donating another pint

 

[Cougar]

Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend
A- can give to A- and A+, but can only recieve from A- or O-.
A+ can only give to A+ and AB+, but can recieve from A+, A-, O+, and O-
I would think they would need to be able to differentiate.

Right...I keep forgetting that gate has to swing both ways. Maybe the military is just bad at typing? I guess it's not that bad if you're A+ and they list you as A-, but what if they reverse it and list someone who's A- as A+? What happens if you receive the wrong blood?

 

[Riprorin]

Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend

Originally posted by: Riprorin


I'm O+ but I'm considered a "rare" donor apparently because I have very few antigens. Do you understand the nature of the interaction between blood antigens and antibodies?

I assume that being O+ combined with having few antigens makes me a good universal donor.

I understand antigens and antibodies quite well, as my Microbiology research paper was on autoimmunological diseases. You need to understand that a person with Rh- blood will develop Rh antibodies if he/she recieves Rh+ blood (it takes time for the antibodies to develop, so while the first transfusion may not have any negative effects, it will happen with reoccuring transfusions), and the result is agglutination. Agglutination won't always happen, but it can be fatal if it does. We can get into the polygenetic inheritance of Rh, but it doesn't make a difference since + and - is determined only by the D-antigen.

I received a rare donor card from the Red Cross a few years ago. I was surprised because I have a common blood type. On the card, there were a long list of blood factors, none of which were decipherable to me.