The Blood Donation Process

1. You must provide a valid form of identification (driver’s license, employee/student ID, Blood Assurance donor card, etc.), as well as your name, address, and telephone number. You will also be asked to read some information about AIDS which identifies people who should not give blood.
    
2. The next step is the medical interview; a series of questions about your general health, certain medical conditions, and any medicine you are currently taking or have been taking recently. By asking these questions, our staff will be able to determine if it is safe, not only for you to give blood, but for others to receive your blood.
    
3. Next, the professional staff will take your pulse, temperature, and blood pressure. A blood sample will be taken from the finger to check the hemoglobin (iron level).
   
   If everything checks out, you are ready to donate.
    
4. A staff member will gently cleanse and sterilize the arm before inserting a needle into the bend of the arm. The needle is sterile, used only once, and disposed of; therefore, you cannot get any disease or virus, including the HIV virus, by donating blood.
   While donating, you may feel a little discomfort, like a pinch, in the bend of the arm, but when the process is finished, you will have the satisfaction of knowing you gave someone the "Gift of Life".
    
5. After your donation, we encourage you to rest and enjoy a light refreshment. From the time the registration begins until you are ready to leave, the donation process should take less than 45 minutes.