Our lifesaving mission extends beyond providing blood for those who need it. We also provide important personal health screenings that are convenient for donors and beneficial as they maintain overall health.
All donors receive mini-physicals to ensure they are healthy enough to donate blood. This includes:
We report blood pressure, and cholesterol results to each donor online.
Results from your donations will be available online. You may set up an online donation profile with your name as you enter it upon donation and your donor identification number. You will also receive courtesy email reminders regarding results, so if you do not have an e-mail on file, please let your screener know next time you donate blood to help you access results online.
Your health is our number one priority, and we’re taking our concern a step further with Donor CareNection! Donors who have three consecutive elevated blood pressure and/or cholesterol screenings, or who are anemic, will now be contacted through our new Donor CareNection program. If you do not have a doctor or local healthcare provider, we will provide you with some suggestions. We appreciate your commitment to our life-saving mission, and we are committed to supporting your good health.
Test results are also available through the Our Blood Institute mobile app. Download to view yours!
Below is an example of how test results are displayed.
Each time a person donates, our standard testing of blood is performed to help donors monitor their health as well as to protect recipients, making sure they receive the safest possible blood. A list of these tests with descriptions can be found below.
Ultrio Assay Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Nucleic Acid tests detect the presence of HIV, HCV or HBV RNA in the blood. Through the tests, the presence of the actual viral nucleic acid is identified, so it is a direct detection of viral material. A positive test indicates current infection with HIV, HCV or HBV and should be evaluated by a physician. Individuals with confirmed positive HIV, HCV or HBV NAT results are permanently deferred as blood donors.
Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) test detects the presence of antibodies to the organism that causes syphilis. It is not a specific test for syphilis, so false positive tests do occur. If an RPR test is positive, a confirmatory test is done to determine if the individual has been infected. A physician should evaluate all confirmed positive tests. Individuals with confirmed positive tests are deferred from donating blood for 12 months after treatment.
Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Type I and/or Type II Antibody (Anti-HTLV-I/Type II) test detects the presence of an antibody to the viruses, Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Type I and/or Type II. These viruses have been associated with two disease processes, Adult T-Cell Leukemia and Tropical Spastic Paraparesis. A positive test indicates that the individual has been exposed to this virus. It does not mean that the person will develop Adult T-Cell Leukemia or Tropical Spastic Paraparesis.
Since a false positive test may be found, a second test must be completed in order to confirm that the viral exposure has occurred. An individual with a confirmed positive test should be evaluated by a physician. Individuals with confirmed positive tests are permanently deferred as blood donors.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Antibody (Anti-HIV 1 / 2) test detects the presence of the virus that causes AIDS. A positive test indicates infection with the virus and does not mean that the individual has AIDS.
Since a false positive test may be found, a second test must be completed in order to confirm that the viral exposure has occurred.
A confirmed positive test for anti-HIV should be evaluated by a physician. Individuals with confirmed positive tests are permanently deferred as blood donors.
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) test detects the presence of the virus that causes Hepatitis B. A positive test indicates active or chronic disease. A positive test result should be evaluated by a physician. Individuals with confirmed positive tests are permanently deferred from blood donation.
Hepatitis C Antibody (Anti-HCV) test detects the presence of the virus that causes Hepatitis C. This virus can infect the liver and has been associated with active and/or chronic infection. Long term or chronic infection can lead to more serious conditions, such as cirrhosis of the liver. A confirmed positive test result should be evaluated by a physician. Individuals with confirmed positive tests are deferred as blood donors.
Hepatitis B Core Antibody (Anti–HBc) test detects an antibody produced after an exposure to the Hepatitis B virus. A positive test indicates past exposure or a chronic carrier state. Although full recovery may have occurred, individuals with anti-HBc are permanently deferred as blood donors.
Cholesterol is a soft, fat-like substance found among the fats in the bloodstream. Fats and cholesterol circulating in the blood are deposited in the inner walls of the arteries blocking the flow of blood. Most coronary heart disease is the result of blocked arteries.
A Blood Type is identified for every donor. Blood types are important to know because a donor’s and recipient patient’s blood must be compatible before transfusion can occur. All of us have an ABO group and an Rh type. These two pieces of information are what determine our “blood type”.
There are four ABO groups: A, B, AB and O. There are two Rh types: Positive and Negative. The total number of possible ABO and Rh blood types is eight. Your blood type is inherited from your parents and it never changes. The frequency of each blood type in the population of this country is listed below in percentages:
O Positive 39%
A Positive 31%
B Positive 9%
AB Positive 3%
O Negative 9%
A Negative 6%
B Negative 2%
AB Negative 1%
West Nile virus RNA is detected using the same type of test as used for HIV-1, HCV and HBV.
Since a false positive test may be found, a second test must be completed in order to confirm that the viral exposure has occurred.
A positive test result should be evaluated by a physician. Individuals with confirmed positive tests are deferred from blood donation for at least 120 days.
Chagas disease is a serious, often fatal disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), that most commonly occurs in Latin America.
Because donors who test positive likely acquired their infection long ago, all US blood centers only test donors who have not been screened previously. The frequency of detecting a positive donor is quite rare. Individuals who test positive are indefinitely deferred.
In addition, donors may choose to purchase a fasting lipid panel and/or screening for prostate specific antigen (PSA). Results of these tests are made available in the Donor Portal section of our website approximately 72 hours after collection and will be mailed approximately two weeks after collection.