Sponsored by ODS and the Student Government Association

Future Barnard Blood Drive Dates

Friday, February 5, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
 

Donor Information

If you are donating blood, please remember to bring your CUID or your donor card if you have one. Please remember to come within 4 hours of eating -- you cannot donate on an empty stomach.

Iron List | Frequently Asked Questions | NYBC Criteria for Donating Blood

These are foods high in iron--great to eat before you donate.

• Apricots
• Bananas
• Beets
• Brewer's yeast
• Dried beans
• Egg yolks
• Kelp
• Lentils
• Liver
• Peaches
• Prunes
• Raisins
• Sesame seeds
• Spinach
• Turnip greens
• Walnuts
• Whole-grain cereal

Back to top

Blood Drive Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the basic requirements for being a blood donor?
   
   You must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in good health. Please bring CUID with you!
   
   
2. Can I give blood if I'm having my period?
   
   Yes--as long as you're feeling okay.
   
   
3. I gave blood over the summer. How often may I donate?
   
   You may donate every 56 days.
   
   
4. I recently got my eyebrow pierced-may I donate blood?
   
   All forms of “body ornamentation”-piercings, tattoos, etc.-are an automatic one-year deferral (unless you have a doctor’s certificate that the procedure was completed under sterile conditions).
   
   
5. I’m on several medications-may I still give blood?
   
   Please refer to the NYBC brochure which describes common deferral reasons. For more specific info re: a particular medication, please call the New York Blood Center @ 800/688-0900 or check their website @ www.nybc.org.
   
   
6. How long does the entire process take?
   
   You should allow one hour-which includes the basic four parts of the blood donation procedure: registration, mini-medical, the donation itself, and the canteen (juice/cookies/snacks).
   
   

ODS 7/03

Back to top

New York Blood Center
Criteria for Donating Blood

Thank you for your inquiry about the criteria to donate blood. The questions about risk for HIV are required as written by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the federal agency that regulates the collection of blood in the U.S.

If a man has had sex with another man, even once, since 1977—he is permanently deferred from donating blood. There is currently no provision for men who practice safe sex, who have had negative HIV tests elsewhere, or for monogamous gay couples. Scientific evidence does not support the length of these deferrals, and the New York Blood Center (NYBC) does not support them as written either. However, since this is federal policy, the New York Blood Center has no flexibility in using these questions.

If you wish to discuss this further with someone at the New York Blood Center, you may call 800/688-0900 and ask for a clinician. If you would like to discuss this with someone at the FDA, the number to call is 301/284-9930.

NYBC website: www.nybloodcenter.org

FDA website: www.fda.gov

March, 2000

Back to top