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When the donor initially presents at the donation site, identifying information is obtained for the permanent record. This includes name, address, telephone number, birth date, social security number (if allowed in that state), and previous donation history, including any names under which previous donations might have been made. To prevent iron depletion, individuals may donate a red cell unit no more often than every 56 days, or 112 days if they are giving a double unit by automated collection. At the time of registration, the prospective donor is given information about blood donation, transmissible disease testing, and factors or behaviors that would preclude blood donation. Information may also describe the agencies that are notified in the event of a positive test result for a transmissible disease. In obtaining the medical history, a staff member asks or reviews donor responses to questions about these factors. Either at the time of registration or before the blood unit is made available for distribution, the identity of each donor must be checked against a registry of individuals known to be unacceptable as blood donors [6]. Although this process is required by the FDA and is widely used throughout the United States, there has never been a thorough study to establish its value, and some registries do not share information that could limit effectiveness.

Table 4.1 Strategies for collecting safe blood.

Using only volunteer blood donors

Questioning donors about their general health before their donation is scheduled

Obtaining a medical history before donation

Carrying out a physical examination before donation

Carrying out laboratory testing of donated blood

Checking the donor’s identity against a registry of previously deferred donors

Providing a postdonation method for the donor to confidentially designate the unit as unsuitable

Providing convenient means for the donor to give postdonation health information that could impact blood safety

There is no standard maximum age for blood donation. Most blood centers do not have a specific upper age limit and instead evaluate each donor individually. Elderly donors have more medical conditions and medications than younger donors, but they do not experience more adverse reactions to donation [7, 8]. Elderly donors have slightly decreased iron stores, especially if they have been regular donors [9–11], but they can safely contribute to the nation’s blood supply [12]. Although 18 years is typically the age at which individuals can take responsibility for their own actions, the lower age limit for blood donation is usually 17 years, and most states have passed laws that also allow donation of whole blood at the age of 16 with parental consent. These special laws dealing with blood donation enable high school students to donate. However, donor safety concerns regarding possible health effects of iron depletion in this age group have led some blood centers to self‐regulatory steps, such as longer minimal donation intervals (e.g., no more than two times per year) and prohibiting automated collection of double red cell units in females younger than 19 years [13].