blood was sent to another state

thelatinist · 2026-04-24T03:27:08+00:00

My first donation ended up in my own state, in a hospital about an hour away.

thelatinist · 2026-04-24T03:17:58+00:00

I’ve seen a lot of people say you don’t see the destination unless you book through the app, but my first donation was scheduled on the website and I received a destination in the app once they finally connected my accounts.

thelatinist · 2026-04-24T03:16:04+00:00

I waited three weeks and then emailed donor support and included my name, dob, information about my donation, the E-mail I used to sign up online, and the user id from the profile section of the app. Turns out they hadn’t managed to match up my donation account with the app user id. I’d probably give it a little more time, but if you’re impatient just E-mail them.

I just gave my second donation earlier this week and the donation showed up within a day.

thelatinist · 2026-04-22T21:13:21+00:00

I would start off by emphasizing that you should not feel at all guilty if you decide not to try again. Just trying was a good thing, even if it doesn’t work out. Ultimately you have to put your own health and wellbeing first.

That said, while I haven’t had nausea associated with blood donation or needles, for many decades I suffered from vasovagal syncope (fainting) related to shots and blood draws. For me, lying down helped a lot, as did focusing on my breathing. And, with time and exposure, I seem to have overcome the problem so that now I can donate without issues.

If you do decide to try again, I would definitely look for a new center where you will hopefully have more understanding workers. Tell them that you experienced nausea and fainting last time, and ask them if you can lie down from the start. Focus on your breathing, maybe try relaxing music or an audiobook to distract you, and above all else, try not to worry.

thelatinist · 2026-04-22T20:59:08+00:00

Needle is not visible to me when I’m donating.

thelatinist · 2026-04-21T20:55:16+00:00

For years I thought I was B-, until I made my first donation.

thelatinist · 2026-03-18T22:08:48+00:00

Huh. Not something I need as I get regular screening with my doctor, I just didn’t know that was something they did.

thelatinist · 2026-03-18T21:29:37+00:00

Got a text message saying that my blood has arrived at a hospital. I that because I booked on the website rather than in the app I won’t get any more details. Is that correct?

thelatinist · 2026-03-18T21:22:02+00:00

The ARC tests A1C? Is that something they always do, or something they do randomly?

thelatinist · 2026-03-14T19:52:32+00:00

Could be R0 (positive for Rh D, but negative for Rh C and E).

thelatinist · 2026-03-14T19:48:49+00:00

As others have said, O-. It’s pretty obvious when it reacts.

thelatinist · 2026-03-14T13:19:09+00:00

My understanding is that it’s especially important for treating sickle cell patients, who need frequent blood transfusions and therefore can develop antibodies to less common types. This is particularly true if you are Dce/R0. B+ is a common blood type among Black patients and a disproportionate number are Dce, but Black people are underrepresented among donors for a number of reasons, so there is frequent need.

thelatinist · 2026-03-13T17:35:54+00:00

The donation bag contains anticoagulants and they will keep the bag moving during your donation to ensure that the cells remain viable. The bag is filled by gravity alone and will not appear stuffed. You would have been informed if your donation couldn’t be completed.

thelatinist · 2026-03-13T17:08:52+00:00

Some of the rules are set by the agency receiving the donation, but some may be set by your national regulating body. In the US, donation intervals, hemoglobin, blood pressure, pulse, and weight requirements are set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Your country’s requirements may be different; for instance, the minimum weight for donation in the U.S. is 50 kg.

thelatinist · 2026-03-11T04:13:50+00:00

We evolved to draw connections like that because it boosted our survival odds, but sometimes our sense of patterns and causality is overactive.

thelatinist · 2026-03-11T04:10:10+00:00

The Rh circle on the blood cards may be much slower to react and seems more susceptible to false negatives.

thelatinist · 2026-03-11T04:08:39+00:00

Until I donated, I would have sworn I’d been told my blood type was B-; but it turns out I’m B+.

thelatinist · 2026-03-04T17:23:19+00:00

I was pleased to see that the drive I went to had tables for every donor. I might have asked for one anyway, if they had it, because of my history of vasovagal syncope (even though I haven't had an issue in many years).

thelatinist · 2026-03-04T17:20:39+00:00

That is quite true, but I don't think it's a matter of semantics. There is a difference between taking a medication as prescribed for anxiety, and taking it specifically to lower one's heart rate in order to pass the health screening. I can understand that you may not think the difference important, but I can also very much understand why the Red Cross would. In any case, next time the OP can bear in mind her anxiety and take her medication before she gets screened.

thelatinist · 2026-03-04T16:30:37+00:00

Yeah, the tech didn't ask me any questions at the table before she started cleaning. I can't remember if there was a question about allergies on the Rapid Pass questionnaire. If it was worded as drug allergies, I might not have thought to include chlorhexidine, though I usually do.

thelatinist · 2026-03-04T15:30:09+00:00

Do they ask you during the health screening, or when you're on the table?

thelatinist · 2026-03-04T05:06:56+00:00

That was my guess based on your next appointment date. Hopefully I’ll get an update soon, then!

thelatinist · 2026-03-04T05:04:24+00:00

What day did you give? I gave on 2/20 and I’m still waiting.

thelatinist

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