Donation Process
Understanding the steps listed below— ahead of your donation — can ensure you have a successful and rewarding experience.
Leading up to your donation, make sure you drink plenty of water. We also recommend eating a well-balanced meal two hours prior to your donation. Check your eligibility.
Remember to bring your valid photo ID and complete our QuickScreen questionnaire online on the day of your donation. A valid photo ID is necessary in order to proceed with donation.
A trained Carter BloodCare staff member will go over your health history with you. This will include checking your temperature, blood pressure, pulse, hemoglobin, and that you weigh the minimum requirement of 110 pounds.
Your phlebotomist will ask you to lie back and relax while your arm is cleaned with an antiseptic. Your blood will be drawn with a new, disposable sterile needle. Once you’re in the donation bed, the process lasts approximately 10 minutes for whole blood. Carter BloodCare uses Applied Muscle Tension (AMT) exercises to help with blood flow. Automated donation times vary.
It’s important that you replenish with fluids after donating to minimize any adverse effects. We invite you to wait and recover for 15 minutes while enjoying a complimentary snack and beverage.
Three days after your donation, log-in to track your mini-physical results, check your non-fasting total cholesterol, your blood type and redeem your Dedicated Donor Rewards points.
If you have any symptoms, questions or concerns after donating blood, contact a Donor Advocate at 817-343-2569 or donoradvocate@carterbloodcare.org
After you donate, do you know where your blood goes? Watch this video to learn more.