Posted on 07/20/2007 12:34:13 PM PDT by Winged Hussar
Calling Blood Type AB Donors
We have received an urgent request from the United States Department of Defense for type AB plasma. We will be shipping them 100 units a week thru mid-August. We ask for your help at this time. As a blood type AB donor, the plasma in your body is universal – it can go to anyone of any blood type. Who uses plasma? Burn patients, trauma patients, even our troops wounded in battle. Type AB is also rare. Only 4% of the population is type AB, so you can imagine how in-demand your plasma must be. You can give just your AB plasma through a special type of blood donation called apheresis. Donations can be made at a local American Red Cross donation center near you. One donation can give enough for up to four patient doses. You would have to donate whole blood up to four times to equal the same number of patient doses as one apheresis plasma donation.
(Excerpt) Read more at donatebloodnow.org ...
An AB+ can receive from anyone, an O- can give to anyone
I’d go with a classmate to donate in college. When were comparing cards, and yadda, yadda, yadda, he was one of about a half dozen people in the state with some particular antigens. They would freeze his blood.
Yes, I noticed this...
“Burn patients, trauma patients, even our troops wounded in battle.”
It almost sounds like they’re last in line.
I’m AB- and I often heard that Red Cross makes big bucks off of donated blood/plasma. I have yet to investigate this.
“I have barked at the moon a few times, but that doesn’t mean I’m mad or a cow.”
Wolf?
O universal for blood donor, ab universal plasma donor
My recollection is that Plasma Donors are a special category at the Red Cross, requiring a special screening process and an extra long visit. It takes special dedication to be a plasma donor. Not sure if there are any guarantees that DoD will ever see your plasma in any case, since Red Cross sells to many buyers. Might be worth checking on.
You may want to call before to find out about being a plasma donor.
Wish I could “assign” my blood to DoD, but I doubt I can.
I am AB and wouldn’t mind helping out, but I refuse to donate anything to the Red Cross. As even you indicated, it’s likely what I do won’t go to the cause for which I donated...exactly why I will never do anything with the Red Cross.
Do you (or anyone) know if some other entity exists besides the Red Cross for this purpose?
OTOH, if you mooed at the moon...
I am O+ but also CMV-, which means that my blood is clean enough to give to premature babies. Maybe that is what your friend had as well. I was told that only something like 3%-4% of the people are CMV-.
LOL - have you MOOOOO-ed at the moon, though?
I'm B+ and used to donate regularly. I also used to get phone calls when supplies were low.
I don't think they'll want my blood anymore, considering where I am now. ;-)
I read that as MOONED at the moon....
:)
susie
CMV-? Is that cytomeglovirus (or whatever it’s called) negative?
susie
That wouldn’t make you mad, just cold...
I had no idea you were there! Wow, I’m in awe, thank you!
susie
I read about a disease fairly common in people of european descent that causes a buildup of iron in the body. Giving blood is the *cure* and I think they recommend they give once per month. Something like that.
susie
And possibly get you arrested, or at least laughed at.
susie
I’m AB+ and this is the first time I’ve heard that anyone can use any of my blood products except fellow AB travelers.
It probably still doesn’t matter since they disqualify you for donating if you’ve been to a “malaria area” in the past year. It doesn’t matter if you didn’t see a single mosquito. You’re treated as if you have AIDS.
I have not been able to donate for years.
Otherwise, I give freely.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.