I just gave blood today and I was wondering:

What happens if the Red Cross does find something wrong with your blood?

Do they notify you?

What do they test for?

Also, wouldn't giving blood be like getting a free AIDS test?

I don't know about in the USA, but here in Ireland yeah they ring you, even if it is something minor that won't preclude you from giving blood in future. I guess some people might use it as a free AIDS test; we have a specific question on our pre-donation questionaire about that, so someone must have been silly enough to do that....

Clare, your blood will be tested for Syphilis, HIV, and Hepatitis as well as some other precautionary tests. They will notify you via lab printout if the results indicate you have one of the above.

On a side note, it is not a good idea to donate blood just to get a free HIV test. The HIV antibodies take a while to show up after one has been infected so it is possible that the test the Red Cross does would not indicate you had HIV when in reality, you very well might. If there is a chance that someone could be infected, they will advice you of places you can go to be tested anonymously.

Thanks for the responses. I always give blood and have never gotten a call. The truck comes right to my work. The form had SO many questions that I didn't remember from last time. The nurse told me that 1977 was a significant date since that was the first documented AIDS case. They give everyone 2 stickers. One is use my blood; the other is do not use my blood. That doesn't make sense either. Why bother to even give blood if you think it is tainted? I have also heard of drug dealers selling their plasma for money. It just got me thinking. Thanks.

Oh yes, I forgot in some places in the US you can get money for your blood. Here, it is purely donation, though you do get a piece of fruit and a drink afterwards (you can have a bottle of Guiness if you like, but I usually chose OJ or tea!).

You can get a bottle of Guinness for real?? We only get cookies and juice. I think people would give blood more for free beer! LOL

Guinness is an essential and medicinal food, isn't it Silja ! People who are not Irish just don't understand. Cookies, indeed! And not just for blood donors .When my aunt was soon to give birth she was told to drink pints of Guinness, or failing that the sweeter, English, stout, Mackeson. Back in 1950 doctors understood nutrition ! Seriously, the reason was that stout contains useful elements; the novel dietary supplement of Guinness was making sure there was no deficiency of these.

Of course, it may explain the resulting infant, my cousin's, taste for the stuff, but she isn't complaining ! At six foot she is evidence that it certainly doesn't inhibit growth, whatever it does to the infant's tastebuds

You forgot the slogan Fred
"Guinness is good for you!"
BTW Any bottled or draught Guinness purchased outside of Ireland Never tastes right Have to have a holiday in Ireland to understand this

I have given blood 3/4 times a year since 1976 and never had any problems. The last time I went though, they sent me a letter saying that I wasn't required to give any more because my blood wasn't suitable.

By the way, the only place to drink Guinness is at the top of the Guinness factory in Dublin. I had two pints up there. , and have never tasted anything so good!

Clare - I've thought about those 2 stickers too - why go to the trouble if it can't be used?
I guess some people who are unsuitable donors still give so they can get the perks that go with it, such as free T-shirts or extra dress-down days at work or whatever...?
Or maybe it's just a formality like at the airport when they ask you if anyone could have put anything in your luggage without your knowledge...