| Myth | Fact of Blood / Platelets Donation |
| A Blood / Platelet donor is prone to infections | A fresh needle is used for each blood / platelets donor. So, there is no chance of an infection that is usually assumed to be transferred from needles - like HIV - from blood / Platelets donation. |
| Blood / Platelets Donation is Painful. | It is not a painful procedure. All that the donor experience is small prick of the needle, and that area heals within a day. |
| Blood / Platelet donation Affects your health. | It is a common myth in people, but if you’re healthy before donating blood, then you’ll not face any recovery issues after donating. You’ll be advised to take rest for a while after donating. Drink enough fruit juices, mineral contents and liquids within a couple of hours. In fact, the body produces new cells even faster after the blood donation than before. |
| Blood products can be stored forever. | The different components of blood have different shelf-lives. Red blood cells must be stored in a refrigerator and discarded after 35-42 days. Platelets can be stored at room temperature (22-24 C)up to five days. Plasma can be frozen and kept for one year. |
| Being a vegetarian, means that the blood does not have enough iron and cannot be donated. | Vegetarians can donate blood. The iron needed is taken from body stores and once a balanced diet is maintained is replaced after donation. This usually normally takes a month or so. |
| Age is a deterrent to blood / platelet donation. | The age criteria for blood donation is 18-60 years and upto 65 years for regular blood donors. |
| Being of mixed race precludes blood from being helpful. | Race and caste have no bearing on eligibility being a blood donor. It is the blood group that is of importance. |
| Blood / Platelets donors become obese | Blood donation doesn't affect your body weight at all, it remains unchanged unless you decide to reward yourself with too much junk post-donation -- and that, my friend, is your responsibility and has nothing to do with blood donation, so stop finding excuses. |
| Blood donation is time-consuming | Blood donation takes 45 minutes to an hour, only. The donation process itself takes barely 10-12 minutes, but the entire process from filling out forms to taking refreshments after donation takes that amount of time. |
| Platelets donation is time-consuming | Platelets donation takes 45-75 minutes to an hour, only. The donation process itself takes barely 35-65 minutes, but the entire process from filling out forms to taking refreshments after donation takes that amount of time. |
| Blood / Platelets donation isn't for women | No, seriously, how does blood have anything to do with gender? The logical argument could be that women have a lower hemoglobin count than men due to their biological setup. So, blood donation affects them the same way that it would affect a man. Thus, unless women are pregnant, lactating, anaemic, menstruating or suffering from some medical issue that lowers hemoglobin count -- they can donate blood / platelets. |
| Health deteriorates after donating blood / platelets. | If you are healthy prior to donation, your recovery is complete in a day or two. It is advised to rest a while after donating. Drinking enough liquids replaces the lost fluid within a couple of hours. The body produces new cells faster after a donation. |
| High BP patients cannot be blood / platelet donors | Those with blood pressure between 100 - 140 mm Hg systolic and 60- 90 mm Hg diastolic can very well donate blood / platelet. This frame might be considered high, but it does not isolate you from donating blood / platelet. Moreover, blood pressure medicines do not interfere with the process at all. |
| If you drink alcohol, you cannot be a blood / platelets | You can donate blood / platelets even if you have a habit of drinking alcohol. However, the only thing is you should avoid drinking for 24 hours before donating blood and you must be at least 18 years old and weigh at least 45 kilograms. However, drinking liquor is injurious to health. |
| I can only donate Blood / Platelets once a year. | Your blood replenishes itself, but not all at once. Your body replaces the plasma you lost within 24 hours. Red blood cells take about four to six weeks to be completely replenished. That’s why you must wait at least 90 days for males and 120 days for female between donations of whole blood and 15 days for platelet. |
| I can’t donate Blood / Platelets if I have tattoos or piercings. | You must wait one year to donate blood / platelets |
| I can’t donate blood / platelets if I’ve traveled. | Depending on where you traveled and when, you may not be able to donate blood / platelet for up to one year. Travel to countries with Zika or Ebola virus outbreaks is a risk and will be assessed on a case-to-case basis by the Blood Centre (Donation) at the time of registration. |
| If you smoke, you cannot be a blood / platelet donor | You can donate even if you are a smoker. However, you must be at least 18 years old and weigh at least 45 kilograms. Also, you should avoid smoking for three hours after donating blood / platelet. However smoking is injurious to health. |
| One day of rest is needed after donating blood / platelet | You can resume your daily activities almost right after donating blood as long as you make sure you drink enough water and juices to replenish your body fluids. You should also avoid alcohol and direct sunlight for 24 hours. But, donating blood doesn’t give you enough of an excuse to bunk your daily chores! |
| There is enough blood / platelets supply to meet patient’s needs | Not even 2 percent of people who are eligible to give blood / platelet actually donate. That means that World Health providers are continuously seeking Blood / Platelets donations. |
| People with seasonal allergies don't qualify for donating blood / platelet | Seasonal allergies do not interfere with blood / platelets donation, just like any other mild cold and cough does not affect your daily routine. So, "I have a cold," is an absolutely lame excuse for not giving your blood / platelet to someone who needs it. |
| Taking medication means that one cannot be a blood / platelet donor. | Depending on the medication being taken, it may make you ineligible to donate blood / platelet (temporarily or permanently), though in many cases it won’t prevent a donation. Person in charge should be informed before donating. |
| Blood donations deplete a person’s own blood supply. | The human body contains about 10 pints of blood, and a typical donor gives about one pint of whole blood. The body makes new blood after a donation. |
| Blood / Platelets is only donated by professional donors | Blood Centre (Donation) does not pay blood / PLATELETS donors. |
| Diabetics cannot donate Blood / Platelets. | If you are a diabetic and your sugar levels are under control, i.e. fasting blood sugar is normal, you can turn into a blood donor. If you are on insulin medication, you are not eligible to donate blood. However, if you are a cardiac patient, suffer from hypoglycemia symptoms or have blood sugar levels in the pre-diabetes range, talk to your doctor if you can donate Blood / Platelets. |
| Donating blood / platelets can weaken the immune system. | With the donation of blood / Platelets, there is no such lasting danger to the immune system. |
| HIV or other infections can be contracted from donating blood / platelets | A clear procedure exists for taking blood / platelets from each donor. Sterility is maintained at all steps. A sterile, new needle is used for each donation and is then properly discarded. Use of sterile equipment and technique, no chance of infection. |
| I’m too old to donate blood / platelets | Eligibility criteria are Minimum age 18 years Maximum age 65 years First time donor shall not be over 60 years of age, for repeat donor upper limit is 65 years. For apheresis donors 18-60 years |
| There is limited blood in the body and it is unhealthy to give some away. | Only about 350-450ml of blood is taken during a donation session. There is enough blood in the body to donate it. |
| There’s a substitute for human blood / platelets | Although scientists are testing hemoglobin-based substitutes for blood and a product called SANGUINATE™, nothing is currently available to replace human blood / platelets. |
| I get coronavirus from blood / platelets donation / transfusion | Not a single case of COVID-19 has been reported anywhere in the world from the act of giving blood / platelets or from transfusion. |
| I can’t donate Blood / Platelets if I’m on medication. | This is only partially true. It’s not the medication itself, but the reason for which you were prescribed the medication that could disqualify you from donating blood. Contact Blood Centre (Donation) to check your Blood / Platelets donation eligibility. |
| When there is a requirement, blood / platelet can be manufactured. | Blood / platelet is not something that can be manufactured. It can only come from healthy human beings. |
| You cannot take part in sports or other physical activities after donating Blood / Platelet. | Giving blood / platelet does not interfere with ability to perform physically. Advice to avoid heavy lifting or strenuous workouts for the rest of the day is given after the donation. You can get back on track the next day. |
| Heavy people are healthier and have more Blood / Platelets give. | Being overweight does not make people less healthy. Overweight people do not have more Blood / Platelets. Keep yourself healthy to donate Blood / Platelets. |
