About the Screening Test for Blood Donation

Blood banks screen all potential donors.

When you donate blood, you'll answer a series of questions and have a quick physical exam. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires blood banks to perform this screening process to ensure the safety of the blood supply.

Medical History

The blood bank employee will ask a series of confidential questions concerning your health, lifestyle and disease exposure to examine risk factors.

Physical Exam

A short physical exam will be performed measuring your blood pressure, temperature, pulse rate and hemoglobin levels.

Blood Screening

All donated blood will undergo screening using 14 tests that look for abnormalities like hepatitis B, hepatitis C, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis. If any abnormality is detected, the blood bank promptly discards the blood.

Temporarily Deferred

Based on your screening results you may be temporarily deferred from donating blood based on your risk factors, lifestyle, disease exposure or other things. You usually can donate blood once the problem clears or certain time period has passed.

Permanently Deferred

Some people are permanently prevented from donating blood. This depends on certain types of sexual activities, drug usage, lifestyle and travel history.

References

• The Blood Donation Process
• Blood Donation FAQs
• UAB Medicine: Blood Donation

Resources

• Journal of the American Medical Association: Blood Donation