Another Benefit to Blood Donation: Mini Health Screening
Whether you give blood just once a year or donate platelets twice a month, each presenting donor undergoes a routine mini health screening prior to giving blood.
The pre-donation health screening checks potential blood donors for their pulse, temperature, blood pressure, and hemoglobin. Not only does this ensure blood donors are healthy and well before donating, but it can also clue donors into underlying health issues they should discuss with their primary care provider at their next medical examination.
The mini physical is free of charge and is a great way to keep track of certain aspects of your health. It is possible that a donor—even someone who gives regularly—may be deferred from donating blood due to blood pressure that is too high, a pulse that is too low, or other factors found during the health screening. That’s okay—everyone’s body varies a bit from day to day. But donors who see a pattern during their screening are equipped with knowledge to bring to their primary doctor at their next checkup.
Disclaimer: The pre-donation mini physical is not a full medical examination. This screening checks potential donors for pulse, temperature, blood pressure, and hemoglobin to assess their eligibility to donate blood. Any official medical examination or checkup should be performed by a physician at a clinic and may incur a cost based on an individual’s medical insurance coverage.