- Myth: I can’t donate if I have tattoos.
- Myth: I can’t donate if I got a piercing recently.
- Myth: I can’t donate if I’ve just been to the dentist.
- Myth: Blood can be manufactured.
- Myth: Blood donation is painful.
- Myth: Blood is only needed in times of emergency.
- Myth: Donating blood causes my body to start over producing blood cells.
- Myth: Donating blood makes you gain weight.
- Myth: Donating blood takes a long time.
- Myth: Donating blood will impact my ability to do my daily activities.
- Myth: Giving blood will harm me by taking away red cells or platelets that my body needs to function.
- Myth: I can catch an infectious disease by donating blood.
- Myth: I have a common blood type, so you don’t need my blood.
- Myth: Donating blood can harm my immune system.
- Myth: Other people are already giving enough blood.
- Myth: Vegetarians or vegans cannot donate blood.
- Myth: I cannot donate blood because I have diabetes.
- Myth: I can’t donate if I’ve had low hemoglobin (iron) levels in the past.
- Myth: I must make an appointment to donate blood.
- Myth: I should fast before I donate.
- Myth: I can’t donate blood when I’m on my menstrual cycle.
- Myth: Sometimes, needles and other materials are reused.
- Myth: I can’t donate blood because phlebotomists won’t be able to find my veins.
- Who can give blood?
- Where does my blood go?
- Which patients use what blood components?
- What types of photo ID are accepted?
- What tests are performed on blood?
- What is vCJD?
- What happens when somebody tests positive for an infectious disease marker?
- What can I eat to raise my hemoglobin levels?
- Is it safe to receive blood transfusions?
- I don’t have sickle cell anemia, but I carry the trait. Can I still donate blood?
- How will I feel after I donate blood?
- How often can I donate blood?
- How much blood is taken?
- How long does it take?
- Can I donate blood for myself?
- When was Carter BloodCare founded?
- Can people with high blood pressure donate blood?
- Can people who have tested positive for HIV or AIDS donate blood?
- Can gay or bi-sexual men donate blood?
- What is Apheresis?
- How long can blood be stored?
- Are children allowed to accompany a donor to the donation location? Can I bring children with me when I donate?
R0 Subtype
R0 blood: Finding the match
All blood donations are matched for the ABO group – which determines whether blood is type A, B, O or AB – and the Rh group, which determines positive or negative blood type.
R0 is part of this Rh group and indicates blood with a certain combination of genes. Like eye color or hair color, the genes that determine your blood type are inherited from your parents.
R0 blood donors can help local patients.
The blood supply must represent the community.
44% of Black/African American people and 17% of Hispanic Americans have the R0 blood type.
Importance of R0 to people with sickle cell disease
R0 donors are in demand to help patients living with sickle cell disease, an inherited blood disorder that causes distorted, sickle-shaped red cells. These blood cells cannot properly transport oxygen throughout the body, which can cause anemia, strokes, chronic fatigue, infections and increased risk of death.
About 100,000 Americans have sickle cell disease (SCD). Black/African American people make up 90% of the U.S. population with SCD; people of Hispanic, South Asian, Southern European and Middle Eastern ancestry are also impacted by SCD.
Benefits of R0 blood
Sickle cell patients may require continual blood transfusions throughout their lifetimes. Matching R0 blood can provide patients with life-changing benefits such as pain reduction, stroke prevention, increased life expectancy, and enhanced quality of life.
How you can help today
Regularly donating blood is a safe, powerful way to give back to your community. Whole blood can be donated every 56 days. Please schedule your appointment now.