maroon barchetta said:

---

How low is low for platelets?

I'm usually happy if mine are at 115 or 120.

---

100s is low for donation. Generally they run 100k-500k. Dangerously low is not till below 20k.

Should I not donate if I'm that low, even if I just do whole blood?

Wow, that's flat out wrong. In my very biased opinion, every platelet donor should be limited to two hours max..

I have low platelet numbers and could hit a double in about 105 minutes. You should not have been subjected to that kind of abuse.

Wow. I'm sorry that you had that experience. I hope it wasn't with my center. If it was, I'm happy to reach out to our team and ensure it doesn't happen again.

I would stick to whole blood if your platelets run low 100's. Platelet loss on a whole blood donation is minimal.

We actually make pooled platelets from whole blood donations as a supplement to single donor platelets. We can take 5 similar blood types and in our production department, after we separate the elated cells and plasma out, we can do an additional spin on the centrifuge then sterile connect and pool the residual platelets into 1 therapeutic dose.

I appreciate the feedback. Haven't donated in years and wasn't sure if I was eligible but maybe so!

SoulSlaveAG2005 said:

---

Wow. I'm sorry that you had that experience. I hope it wasn't with my center. If it was, I'm happy to reach out to our team and ensure it doesn't happen again.

---

Nah it was in College Station, just something I'm pretty passionate about due to my history and training with cancer kids and sickle cell. I'm just not going to donate platelets no biggie.

I am o negative and need to find a place to donate again after we moved.

Don't you have to wait a pretty good while after getting a new tattoo?

I cant recall if that is still a thing.

Sea Speed said:

---

I cant recall if that is still a thing.

---

SoulSlave (I'm still kinda weirded out by that handle) will tell us!

SoulSlaveAG2005 said:

---

History of stroke/heart attack are usuall indefinite.

---

I'm sorry; I don't understand this quote.
Explain, please?

Sea Speed said:

---

I am o negative and need to find a place to donate again after we moved.

---

Search tool to find local community center near you.

https://americasblood.org/for-donors/find-a-blood-center/

maroon barchetta said:

---

Sea Speed said:

---

I cant recall if that is still a thing.

---

SoulSlave (I'm still kinda weirded out by that handle) will tell us!

---

It really depends on your center. The FDA is who sets the minimum guidelines and generally, as long as the tattoo work was performed in a state licensed facility there is no deferral. However, some centers have stricter rules and will make you wait anywhere from 90 days - 1 year.

Handle is just a heavy metal band name I was in many years ago.

C1NRB said:

---

SoulSlaveAG2005 said:

---

History of stroke/heart attack are usuall indefinite.

---

I'm sorry; I don't understand this quote.
Explain, please?

---

Should read "usually indefinite." Meaning if you've had a heart attack or stroke you can't donate, out of safety for donor health.

Very rarely I have seen someone who had a minor heart attack be able to have their cardiologist work with our MD's to readmit into the donor pool. But it's a process.

I know locally tattoos are down to just 90 days now.

Thanks for posting this. I used to donate regularly (O+). Basically every time the calendar said I could, I'd get a text from STBC and go in. Then my doctor told me I was getting anemic, and to stop. I guess I don't rebound as fast as needed to donate as often as they will take it. My hemoglobin count is back in the normal range now. I'll look into donating whole blood and/or components again.

KidDoc said:

---

I know locally tattoos are down to just 90 days now.

---

What about tattoos in a possibly sketchy shop in South America?

I'll just wait and ask my doc at my annual wellness exam in May. Get his input. He knows my situation and will be honest with me about the pros and cons.