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How does the Advantage program work?
How many points do I earn for each donation?
How do I redeem points for a gift?
Do my points ever expire?
What can I get with my points?
Can I donate my points to charitable organizations?
When will I get my gift?
General Questions
If I have traveled to a country that has a risk of malaria can I still donate blood or platelets?
If I have traveled to the United Kingdom or Europe can I donate?
When can I donate after receiving a flu shot?
When can I donate after taking antibiotics?
Can I donate while taking certain medications?
Can I donate if I have a tattoo?
Can I donate with allergies?
Can I donate if I am anemic?
Can I donate if I have donated stem cells or bone marrow?
Can I donate if I am diabetic?
Can I donate if I am a nursing mother?
Can I donate while menstruating?
Before or after donating, will I be able to exercise or play sports?
Platelet Questions
What is it like to donate platelets?
Who needs my platelets?
Is it safe to donate platelets?
How long does it take my body to replace the platelets that are donated?
Can I donate platelets and still be a whole blood donor too?
Red Cell Questions
How old do I have to be to donate blood?
How much do I need to weigh to donate blood?
Do I have to be aspirin free to donate a pint of blood?
How much blood does the human body contain?
How often can I donate a pint of blood?
How soon can I donate blood after donating platelets?
How long does it take to donate a pint of blood?
How long does it take my body to replace the pint of blood that is donated?
How does the Advantage program work?
Simple. Each time you donate blood or platelets, you not only save lives, you earn points. When you accumulate at least 600 points, you can go online to redeem your points for a variety of gifts or you can donate your points to selected charitable organizations. <Back to Top>
How many points do I earn for each donation?
Red Cells
- 50 points for a Whole Blood donation
- 150 points for an Automated Red Cell donation (Alyx)
- 25 point bonus if you return to make a whole blood or automated red cell donation within 180 days of your last whole blood or automated red cell donation.
Platelets
- 75 Points for a Single Platelet donation
- 25 Additional Points for a Double Platelet donation
- 75 Additional Points for a Triple Platelet donation
- 25 Additional Points for a Single Platelet + Red Cell combo donation
- 50 Additional Points for a Double Platelet + Red Cell combo donation
- 25 Additional Points for a Platelet + Plasma combo donation
- 50 Additional Points for a Double Platelet + Plasma combo donation
- 75 Additional Points for platelet donations made on Sunday or Monday
<Back to Top>
How do I redeem points for a gift?
Easy. Visit www.mydonoradvantage.com/gifts.html and login using your email address, birth date and password. This is the same password you use to schedule appointments on our webpage www.nybloodcenter.org. From here you’ll see your point balance and the gifts available. You must have 600 points available in order to redeem but gift choices start at 400 points. <Back to Top>
Do my points ever expire?
Yes. To retain your earned points you must make at least one blood or platelet donation every 180 days. If you do not meet this requirement, you will forfeit 50 Advantage points. If you do not make any donations for an 18 month period you will forfeit all remaining Advantage points. The above requirements will be waived while any donor is temporarily or permanently deferred from donating blood. <Back to Top>
What can I get with my points?
Your Advantage points are redeemable for a wide variety of gifts. Visit www.mydonoradvantage.com/gifts.html to view what is available today. Gifts are always changing based on availability. You can redeem points once you have at least 600 points available. <Back to Top>
Can I donate my points to charitable organizations?
Yes, whenever you donate blood, you always have the thanks of grateful patients who receive your products. If you’d like your donation to do a double good, visit www.mydonoradvantage.com/gifts.html and select the option to donate your points to a charitable organization. You may donate as few as 400 points. Thank you! <Back to Top>
When will I get my gift?
After your order is placed, your gift will be mailed to you within 2-4 weeks. If you have any questions about your order status, contact our Concierge hotline: 1-800-933-BLOOD (2566). <Back to Top>
If I have traveled to a country that has a risk of malaria can I still donate blood or platelets
No. If you have spent less than 6 months in a part of any country that has a risk of malaria you are temporarily deferred from donating for 12 months from the time you return to the U.S. <Back to Top>
If I have traveled to the United Kingdom or Europe can I donate?
If you have spent 3 months or more in the United Kingdom from 1980-1996, you are permanently deferred from donating. If you have spent time that adds up to 5 years or more in Europe from 1980 to the present you are permanently deferred from donating. <Back to Top>
When can I donate after receiving a flu shot?
You may safely donate immediately after receiving a Flu Shot if you are feeling well and healthy. <Back to Top>
When can I donate after taking antibiotics?
You may donate blood or platelets the same day the last dose of your antibiotic is taken if you are feeling 100% well. <Back to Top>
Can I donate while taking certain medications?
Most medications are acceptable for blood donation however please call us at 1-800-688-0900 to determine if your medication defers you from donating for any period of time. <Back to Top>
Can I donate if I have a tattoo?
Donors who receive tattoos are deferred from donating for 12 months unless it was applied in New Jersey at a licensed tattoo parlor. <Back to Top>
Can I donate with allergies?
Yes, as long as you currently have no sinus or respiratory infections. <Back to Top>
Can I donate if I am anemic?
Yes, if your hemoglobin is at least 12.5 at the time of donation. <Back to Top>
Can I donate if I have donated stem cells or bone marrow?
Yes, you may safely donate blood 8 weeks after the stem cell or marrow donation. <Back to Top>
Can I donate if I am diabetic?
Yes, donors are eligible to donate as long as your diabetes is under control. <Back to Top>
Can I donate if I am a nursing mother?
Yes, it is safe to donate at least 6 weeks after delivery. <Back to Top>
Can I donate while menstruating?
Yes. <Back to Top>
Before or after donating, will I be able to exercise or play sports?
Yes, but you should avoid lifting, pushing heavy objects, or engaging in strenuous exercise for 4-5 hours after your donation. <Back to Top>
What is it like to donate platelets?
A platelet donation feels much the same as a whole blood donation. A small amount of blood is taken from your arm using a new, sterile, single use needle. The blood is then spun in a centrifuge to separate your platelets from other blood components. The platelets are collected in a separate bag and the remainder of your blood is returned to you. This cycle is repeated several times to generate the needed volume of platelets. <Back to Top>
Who needs my platelets?
Platelets are essential to normal blood clotting. Platelets are often used to treat:
- Cancer patients
- Accident victims
- Patients with blood disorders
- Bone marrow transplant patients.
The need for platelets is constant. Platelets are very fragile, short lived blood cells that must be transfused within 5 days of donation. Weekends and long holidays can place an added strain on the supply of platelets. You can safely donate platelets every 3 days up to 24 times a year.
<Back to Top>
Is it safe to donate platelets?
Yes. At all times during the platelet collection process your blood remains inside a sterile tubing system and is never in contact with the equipment used for your platelet donation. All tubing, bags and the needle used to collect your platelets are new, sterile and used only once for you. After use they are disposed of. <Back to Top>
How long does it take my body to replace the platelets that are donated?
Your body replaces the platelets very quickly. Your plasma, white cells and red cells are returned to you during the donation process. Because your red cells are returned, you may donate platelets more often than a whole blood donation. <Back to Top>
Can I donate platelets and still be a whole blood donor too?
Yes. You can donate whole blood in as few as three days after a platelet donation or donate platelets three days after a whole blood donation. You can donate platelets up to 24 times each year and whole blood every 56 days. Donor eligibility guidelines are the same for both whole blood and platelets except platelet donors must refrain from aspirin or products containing aspirin for 72 hours prior to donation. <Back to Top>
How old do I have to be to donate blood?
You are eligible to donate from 16 years of age through 75 years of age with photo or signature ID. Donors who are 76 years of age or older need an annual letter from their physician. Donors who are 16 years old require a parental permission/consent form which can be found at www.nybloodcenter.org. <Back to Top>
How much do I need to weigh to donate blood?
Donors must weigh at least 110 lbs. Additional height/weight requirements apply to donors age 16 through 18. <Back to Top>
Do I have to be aspirin free to donate a pint of blood?
No, however, platelet donors should not take aspirin for 72 hours prior to donating platelets. <Back to Top>
How much blood does the human body contain?
Approximately 8 – 12 pints. <Back to Top>
How often can I donate a pint of blood?
Every 56 days not to exceed 6 times a year. <Back to Top>
How soon can I donate blood after donating platelets?
You can donate a pint of blood three days after donating platelets as long the last whole blood donation was at least 56 days before. <Back to Top>
How long does it take to donate a pint of blood?
The actual donation takes 7-12 minutes. Donors should plan to spend 1 hour from registration through refreshments. <Back to Top>
How long does it take my body to replace the pint of blood that is donated?
Your plasma, platelets and white blood cells are reproduced by the body very quickly but it takes 4 to 8 weeks for the body to replace your red blood cells. <Back to Top>
If you have any other question that is not answered here, please feel free to call our Advantage Concierge hotline at 1-800-933-BLOOD (2566). We are here specifically to help donors like you Monday-Friday 8:30AM – 8:30PM Saturday 10:00AM – 8:00PM.
- Platelets are a component of blood that is needed for clotting.
- Platelets are used by cancer patients, accident victims and to help treat other blood disorders.
- Platelets have a shelf life of just 5 days.
- You can donate platelets every 3 days up to 24 times each year. The body replenishes donated platelets very rapidly.
- We can separate platelets from a whole blood donation but it would require 6-8 whole blood donations to generate the same volume of platelets as we get from ONE platelet donation procedure.
- One platelet donation provides enough platelets for a transfusion and is preferred over a platelet transfusion that comes from “pooled platelets” from 6-8 different whole blood donors.
- Some donors have a “high platelet count” which enables them to donate a ‘double’ or ‘triple’ unit without any compromise to their health.
- Some patients who require frequent platelet transfusions need “HLA-matched” platelets. These units come from donors who share the same HLA (human leukocyte antigen) type as the patient. This helps assure that the platelets will help the patient’s blood perform its normal clotting function.
- Close to 2,000 donations are needed each day in the New York/New Jersey community for patients who require a life-saving blood and/or platelet transfusion. Those in need include cancer patients, accident, burn or trauma victims, patients undergoing surgery or a transplant, newborn babies, etc.
- Nearly anyone age 17 (16 years old with appropriate written permission (NY) or consent (NJ) from their parent or legal guardian - form can be printed here ) to 75*, who weighs a minimum of 110 pounds and is in good health can safely donate blood. Addition height/weight criteria apply to donors aged 16-18, click here for more information.
* Donors aged 76 and above may donate with a physician’s note.
- People can safely donate whole blood every 56 days or automated red cells (ALYX) every 112 days.
- There is NO SUBSTITUTE for donated blood. All transfusions in this country are a result of the 8 million volunteer blood donors in the United States. But the demand for transfusions is increasing as the population ages and more sophisticated medical care and surgeries, requiring transfusion support, become more commonplace.
- Donated blood is perishable just like milk. Red cells last for 42 days; platelets last for 5 days; plasma can be frozen for up to a year.
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