What Happens to My Blood After I Donate It?

If you’ve donated blood, you’ve likely worked with a phlebotomy technician. You also might have helped to save a life. However, how can you know where your donated blood will end up? In general, there are a few purposes for donated blood.

Donation

Perhaps you went to a blood drive in Denver. If you attend a blood drive, you will first register and then receive a mini physical to make sure you are physically able to donate blood. Then the nurse, who has taken courses in phlebotomy, will take about a pint of your blood.

The pint of blood and your registration ultimately receive matching barcodes so the Red Cross can keep track of your blood. You may also receive some free food to boost your blood sugar. Luckily, food can also help you feel more comfortable with the process of donating. At the end of donation, your blood will travel to a processing center.

Processing and Testing

Your pint of blood will spin through centrifuges to remove red cells, platelets and plasma. These materials might be further processed to make other compounds. In addition, your blood will go through a test to check for bacteria.

After your pint of blood is separated in Denver or elsewhere, it will travel to a testing center. Individuals that have completed phlebotomy courses know that these testing centers commonly conduct 12 different tests on the blood samples they receive. In general, these tests look for several things, such as infectious diseases. If the blood tests positive for any diseases, the Red Cross will notify the donor and discard the blood.

Storage

Once your donated blood is declared safe, the Red Cross will store it. Interestingly enough, red blood cells stay in refrigerators at six degrees Celsius for up to 42 days, blood platelets stay at room temperature for five days and plasma stays frozen for up to one year.

Distribution

Donated blood is commonly available to hospitals 24 hours a day in Denver and all over the nation.

Phlebotomy courses make the whole act of donating blood possible. If you’re interested in becoming a phlebotomist or donating blood, visit the Red Cross website for more information.

Kathleen Stone is a health writer reporter for Fusion 360, a Content Marketing Agency. Information provided by Phlebotomy Training Specialists.

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