10th donation!

Finally, I donated for the 10th time on 16 Sep! I was rejected two weeks before because of low haemoglobin level of 12.4 g/dl (should be at least 12.5 g/dl). I had to take iron supplement for two weeks before I could try again.

Many ask, is the process scary?

Nope. If you're afraid, don't look at the needle and take a deep breath. It's only painful when they administer the painkiller shot (and it actually only feels like someone pinch you). After that, you won't feel a thing when they insert the ±2 mm diameter needle into your vein. Then, you gotta squeeze that ball to keep your blood flowin', baby!
(Pardon my language, but you really have to squeeze the red-cross ball they gave you to keep your blood flowing)

Because I weigh less than 50 kg, only 350 ml of blood is drawn (450 ml is drawn for those weighing more than 50 kg). This is only 10-12% of the total blood volume in your body.

To donate, you have to fulfill these criteria:

• Are between 16 and 60 years old (those below 18 need a parental consent to donate);
• Weigh at least 45 kg;
• Have a haemoglobin level of at least 12.5 g/dl;
• Are in generally good health;
• Have not had any symptoms of infection for at least 1 week e.g. sore throat, cough, runny nose, diarrhea; and
• Have not had a fever in the last 3 weeks.

On top of the above criteria, there are additional travelling condition which may deem you ineligible for donation. The areas of interest are those with risk of an insect-borne or animal-borne infections that may be transmitted through blood transfusion through asymptomatic donors of the following illnesses:

• Chikunguya (CHIKV) fever - Click here for latest list of CHIKV endemic areas. Those who travelled to any of the areas should not donate for at least 3 weeks upon return.
• Malaria - this includes those who recently travel to Batam and other rural areas in Indonesia within 4 months. Until the next 4 months from the day you left the area, you are ineligible to donate. Click here for latest list of Malaria endemic areas.
• Mad Cow disease - UK, France, and other European countries. Click here for more info.
• West Nile Virus - includes those who travelled to Greece, the USA and Canada in the past 28 days. You should not donate for at least 3 weeks upon return. Click here for more info.

They need more female donors. Currently, only 30% of donors are females. So, let's go girls! Don't be afraid of the needles!

Sources:

"Blood Donation". Health Xchange. Retrieved 2013-09-26.

"Health Sciences Authority - Who Can Donate". Health Sciences Authority. Retrieved 2013-09-26.

"Health Sciences Authority - Overseas Travel". Health Sciences Authority. Retrieved 2013-09-26.