- 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 give blood?
- How will I feel after I give blood?
- How often can I give blood?
- How much blood is taken?
- How long does it take?
- Can I give 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?
Diversity
Blood Donor Diversity
What is donor diversity?
Donor diversity recognizes blood donors that represent a broad spectrum of age, gender, race and ethnic backgrounds, and blood types. Carter BloodCare acknowledges the importance of diversity among our blood donors and is committed to increasing awareness about the impact diversity makes in supporting transfusion needs of patients in local hospitals.
Why is donor diversity important?
Donor diversity in race and ethnic backgrounds is important because patients whose lives depend on transfusion also have equally diverse inheritance. Since blood type is inherited from our parents, the optimal blood match for a patient receiving frequent transfusions comes from a donor whose heritage is similar. The community blood supply should mirror the people who are potential patients. A hospital with diverse patients requires a diverse blood supply to transfuse them.
You can help. Here’s how.
Increasing the diversity of blood donors is crucial in providing adequate and timely care for patients in the community. The need for blood will always be there. No matter what your background, you can help us take care of your community by donating blood. Your blood may be the best match for a patient in need.
People in good health that weigh at least 110 pounds can donate blood starting at age 16 with parental consent; those 17 years and older may give blood independently. There is no upper age limit. Prospective donors can check their eligibility online.
Find a Carter BloodCare donor center or mobile drive near you, or call or text 800-366-2834 to make an appointment to donate blood.
Translation services are available for donors at all Carter BloodCare donor centers and mobile drives. Carter BloodCare team members will help connect non-English speaking donors to a translator upon arrival.
At the time of your donation, it is important to provide information about your ethnicity. There are more than 600 different proteins that are found on the surface of our blood cells, and certain blood types are unique to specific ethnic groups. Indicating your ethnicity will help Carter BloodCare perform tests to determine if you have unique or uncommon blood types that could be the best match your blood to a patient in need.
Invite friends, family members and others to join you in donating blood. You can also host a blood drive to get the community involved.
Ask Carter BloodCare
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