Person with low iron level can still donate plasma/platelet?

[Shan Xue]

i notice that for donating plasma or platelets, there is no need to drip a drop of blood into the solution to test the iron level. if a person has been advised not to donate whole blood because of low iron level, can he/she still donate plasma or platelets?

[SUBA]

Hi

I think that a person needs to maintain iron level for donating whole blood or aspheresis. I doubt whether a person with low iron level can still donate plasma or platelets.

Can anybody correct my view on this and also update me on testing the iron level?

subasri

[Ramanathan]

A person with low Iron level may be considered Anemic. I dont think he will be a suitable candidate to donate.

I may be wrong. Please correct me.....

[Shan Xue]

i don't know about Singapore criteria but the hameoglobin level required for donating platlets or plasma in Australia is slightly lower than donating whole blood. this is not suprising as i was seldom offered iron tablets after donating platelets and i read or heard b4 that there is no loss in iron level after donating plasma/platelets. i think one of the reasons why plasma or platelets can be donated more often than whole blood is because there is no loss in iron.

b4 plasma or plaetlet donation at singapore blood bank, no drip test was done to test for iron level. so even if one's iron level is low on that day, he/she wouldn't be detected for plasma or platelet donation.


What does my haemoglobin level need to

be to donate ‘whole blood’?

To collect a standard or “whole blood” donation,

your haemoglobin level should be comfortably

inside the normal range before you donate:

Women: 120-165 g/L

Men: 130-185 g/L

What should my haemoglobin level be

for an apheresis collection?

For apheresis collection of plasma or platelets,

your haemoglobin level should be within the

normal range:


Women: 115-165 g/L

Men: 125-185 g/L

http://www.arcbs.redcross.org.au/donor/guide/documents/hb%20booklet.pdf

[Shan Xue]

while donating platelets at SGH today, i asked the nurse the question.

she confirmed that platelet donation does not lower hameoglobin level. however, hamoeglobin level should not be too low to prevent fainting as blood is drawn and return in cycles. donor with low hameoglobin may faint during drawing. should be ok if drawing and returning is concurrent. there are 2 types of machines at HSA and SGH. the one with a much shorter cycle and hand pump attached to the machine should be ok.