Oklahoma Blood Institute Arkansas Blood Institute
Texas Blood Institute Coffee Memorial Blood Center
BLOOD DONOR EDUCATION MATERIALS
DONOR ELIGIBILITY SPECIFIC INFORMATION
READ THIS
BEFORE
YOU DONATE!
We know that you would not donate unless you think your blood is safe. However, in order for us to assess all risks that may affect you or a
patient receiving a transfusion, it is essential that you answer each question completely and accurately. If you don’t understand a question,
ask the blood center staff. All information you provide is confidential.
To determine if you are eligible to donate, we will:
Ask about your health and travel
Ask about medicines you are taking or have taken
Ask about your risk for infections that can be transmitted by blood especially AIDS and viral hepatitis
Take your blood pressure, temperature and pulse
Take a blood sample to be sure your blood count is acceptable
Travel to or birth in other countries
Blood donor tests may not be available for some infections that are found only in certain countries. If you were born in, have
lived in, or visited certain countries, you may not be eligible to donate.
If you are eligible to donate, we will:
Clean your arm with an antiseptic. Tell us if you have any skin allergies
Use a new, sterile, disposable needle to collect your blood
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER YOUR DONATI
ON
To protect patients, your blood is tested for several types of hepatitis, HIV, syphilis, and other infections. If your blood tests positive it will not
be given to a patient. There are times when your blood is not tested. If this occurs, you may not receive any notification. You will be notified
about any positive test result which may disqualify you from donating in the future. The blood center will not release your test results without
your written permission unless required by law (e.g. to the Health Department).
DONOR ELIGIBILIT
Y
Certain diseases, such as AIDS and hepatitis, can be spread through sexual contact and enter your bloodstream. We will ask
specific questions about sexual contact.
What do we mean by “sexual contact?”
The words “have sexual contact with” and “sex” are used in some of the questions we will ask you, and apply to any of the
activities below, whether or not a condom or other protection was used:
Vaginal sex (contact between penis and vagina)
Oral sex (mouth or tongue on someone’s vagina, penis, or anus)
Anal sex (contact between penis and anus)
HIV/AIDS risk behaviors
HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. It is spread mainly by sexual contact with an infected person OR by sharing needles or
syringes used by an infected person for injecting drugs.
Do not donate if you:
Have ever had HIV/AIDS or have ever had a positive test for the HIV/AIDS virus
Have used needles to take any drugs not prescribed by your doctor IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS
Have taken money, drugs or other payment for sex IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS
Have had sexual contact IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS with anyone who has ever had HIV/AIDS or has ever had a positive
test for the HIV/AIDS virus, ever taken money, drugs or other payment for sex, or ever used needles to take any drugs
not prescribed by their doctor
Are a male who has had sexual contact with another male, IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS
Are a female who has had sexual contact IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS with a male who has had sexual contact with
another male IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS
Have had syphilis or gonorrhea IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS
Have been in juvenile detention, lockup, jail or prison for 72 or more consecutive hours IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS
Have a history of Ebola virus infection or disease
Do not donate to get a test! If you think you may be at risk for HIV/AIDS or any other infection, do not donate simply to get a
test. Ask us where you can be tested outside the blood center.
Do not donate if you have these symptoms which can be present before an HIV test turns positive:
Fever
Enlarged lymph glands
Sore throat
Rash
Your blood can transmit infections, including HIV/AIDS, even if you feel well and all your tests are normal. This is because even
the best tests cannot detect the virus for a period of time after you are infected.
IMPORTANT NEW INFORMATION DO NOT DONATE if you:
Are taking any medication to prevent HIV infection these medications may be known by you under the following
names: PrEP, PEP, TRUVADA, or DESCOVY.
Have taken such a medication in the past 3 months.
Have EVER taken any medication to treat HIV infection.
DO NOT donate if your donation might harm the patient who receives the transfusion.
THANK YOU FOR DONATING BLOOD TODAY!
-Over-
SYLVAN N. GOLDMAN OKLAHOMA BLOOD INSTITUTE / Rev: 16 / Dept: OBI-BBD-DS-eff / Effective Date: 12 Apr 2021 / DOC:OBI-DS-Form-419
Print Date:
READ THIS BEFORE YOU DONATE!
WHAT TEST WILL BE PERFORMED ON YOUR BLOOD?
All donated blood is tested for the following:
ABO typing/Rh factor provides positive verification of blood type
Blood group antibodies indicates unexpected antibodies that are a result of prior transfusion, pregnancy or other factors
Hepatitis B surface antigen indicates a present infection or carrier state of hepatitis B virus
Antibodies to hepatitis B core additional test that detects a present or past infection with the hepatitis B virus
Antibodies to hepatitis C virus indicates antibodies to a virus that causes hepatitis C
Antibodies to HIV-1/2 indicates antibodies to HIV (the virus which causes AIDS)
Antibodies to HTLV-1/2 indicates antibodies to a virus that can cause adult T-cell leukemia & tropic spastic paraparesis
Serologic Test for Syphilis screens for syphilis
Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) for HCV, HIV, WNV & HBV extremely sensitive testing which detects the RNA and/or DNA of
hepatitis C, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (AIDS Virus), West Nile Virus (WNV) and Hepatitis B.
Total Serum Cholesterol as a donor benefit, your blood will be tested for cholesterol and a written report showing your
cholesterol level will be mailed to you, or you can check your test results on our website (www.obi.org, www.txbi.org,
www.arkbi.org, www.thegiftoflife.org).
Other tests that might be performed are:
Antibodies to Cytomegalovirus (CMV) indicates presence of the antibodies to a very common virus in the environment.
Transmission may cause active disease in the newborn or immune-suppressed patients.
Sickle Cell Trait indicates a genetic red blood cell abnormality. This test is performed on blood given by minority donors
who have not been previously tested.
Chagas Disease (Trypanosoma cruzi) Testing indicates the presence of antibodies to a parasite found in Latin and South
America. A positive or false positive test will indefinitely defer a donor from future blood donations.
Research Testing Some of the tests may be investigational (research) tests. You will be notified of any test results that are
of importance to your health or that affect your eligibility to donate.
Parvovirus indicates the presence of Nucleic Acid of a virus that can affect humans.
NOTE: There may be occasions when your blood donation may not be completely tested for infectious diseases if adequate
samples for testing are not obtained. You will be notified by mail if we find abnormal results from the above tests, with the
exception of Parvovirus. Even though your abnormal results prevent us from using your blood, it may be necessary to contact
you at a later time for repeat blood samples so we may help monitor your health. Certain abnormal test results require us to
include your name on the blood center’s permanent deferral list. All positive HIV (AIDS), hepatitis, syphilis, West Nile and
COVID-19 antibody tests are reported as required to the State Health Department. Therefore, if you do not wish to have
your blood tested or do not wish to be notified of the results, YOU SHOULD NOT DONATE BLOOD.
The Institute has developed a personalized health initiative called Donor Carenection. You may be contacted by our
staff regarding certain wellness indicators, should you meet criteria indicating the potential for improving your
overall health.
WHAT
HAPPE
NS TO YOUR DO
NATION
?
Your blood will be tested for various infectious agents. It will then be processed into components (red cells, platelets,
plasma). After processing, red cells can be stored for 42 days, platelets can be stored for five days and plasma can be frozen
for one year. Your single donation can help save the lives of up to three patients. Your donation may also help patients
through research or through further manufacture, such as by sending components of your donation to be processed into
pharmaceuticals.
WHAT TEST WILL BE PERFORMED ON YOUR BLOOD?
CAN DONATING CAUSE ANY SIDE EFFECTS?
People seldom experience discomfort after donating blood. However, if you feel light-headed, sit down or lie down until the
feeling passes. If some bleeding occurs after removal of the bandage, apply pressure to the site and raise your arm over your
head for three to five minutes. If bruising or bleeding under the skin appears, apply pressure and if possible, a cold pack to
the area of bruising during the first 24 hours. If you experience fatigue, decreased exercise capacity or a craving to chew
things such as ice or chalk, these may be symptoms of post donation iron deficiency. Post donation iron deficiency
may be reduced by increasing intake of iron rich foods. If you experience any difficulty or have any questions or
concerns regarding the suitability of your blood for transfusion, please feel free to call the blood center at 405-297-
5581 or 1-800-375-7654.
For more information, please visit one of our websites:
www.obi.org, www.txbi.org, www.arkbi.org, www.thegiftoflife.org
SYLVAN N. GOLDMAN OKLAHOMA BLOOD INSTITUTE / Rev: 16 / Dept: OBI-BBD-DS-eff / Effective Date: 12 Apr 2021 / DOC:OBI-DS-Form-419
Print Date: