How much blood does a person donate in one session?
Each unit of blood is about one pint, or 450 to 500 milliliters.
Is there an age limit for donating?
To be eligible to donate blood, a person must be in good health, and between the ages of 17 and 75. After the age of 75, you will need permission from your doctor.
How often can blood be donated?
People in good health who weigh at least 110 pounds can donate a unit of blood as often as every eight weeks. Some states may further limit the number and/or frequency of donations in a 12-month period.
Are there risks in giving blood?
Almost none. It is not possible to acquire any disease through donating blood because new, disposable, sterilized equipment is used for each donation. A very small number of donors, less than half of one percent, experience slight discomfort during or immediately after donating.
Can you get HIV/AIDS or hepatitis from donating blood?
No. Sterile procedures and new disposable equipment are used by all blood donor centers. All items used—the finger lancet, the needle, swabs and solutions—are discarded after a single use.