When I donate blood or platelets, how much am I helping others? Is this an efficient form of community work? Donating platelets takes a couple of hours. Should I be working those hours and donating the money or volunteering in some more active way? [more inside]
posted by Area Man on May 8, 2012 - 37 answers

What are the benefits (to the donor) of a platelet/plasma donation? [more inside]
posted by MrBCID on Mar 6, 2011 - 14 answers

Last month, I gave blood for the first time. I'm glad I did it, and as a bonus I was finally able to figure out my blood type. Now I'm curious if, based on my blood type, my blood is worth more/less/the same as any other blood type? Which donor types are generally perfered over others? There's the universal and valuable O- of course, but what about the others? [more inside]
posted by cgg on Nov 15, 2010 - 27 answers

My blood type is AB+. What's the best kind of blood-product donation I can do? And where in the DC area should I go to do so? [more inside]
posted by lash on Jul 8, 2010 - 13 answers

What is the benefit of "double red" blood donation over whole blood donation? [more inside]
posted by Nothlit on May 8, 2010 - 6 answers

Saying that you have had sex with a man ("even once") disqualifies you for blood donation most places. But I know I don't have HIV. Is it ethical to lie on the intake survey so I can still donate? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Feb 27, 2010 - 106 answers

Why are females not allowed to donate platelets in the UK? [more inside]
posted by penguinliz on May 11, 2009 - 13 answers

Was my poop weird because I donated blood? SFW but contains qualitative poop analysis. Really. [more inside]
posted by mindsound on Feb 29, 2008 - 9 answers

What's the value of blood donations? Is some blood worth more than other blood? [more inside]
posted by kendrak on Jan 7, 2008 - 14 answers

How can I temporarily boost my blood iron levels for the next 24 hours? [more inside]
posted by yarrow on Oct 23, 2007 - 21 answers