Posted on March 5, 2013 at 2:54 pmTo be eligible to donate blood, your hemoglobin (iron level) must be at least 12.5 on the day of your donation. Because a person’s iron level fluctuates on a daily basis it is important to eat iron-rich or iron-fortified foods at least 2 weeks prior to your donation. Our staff will check your hemoglobin on… Continue reading
Posted on September 21, 2012 at 11:36 amBlood is a specialized body fluid. It has four main components: plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Blood has many different functions, including: transporting oxygen and nutrients to the lungs and tissues forming blood clots to prevent excess blood loss carrying cells and antibodies that fight infection bringing waste products to the… Continue reading
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 5:43 pmHave you ever been told you are CMV – or CMV +? Wonder what it means? A blogger from a blood center across the country, in fact the very first blood center to test for CMV, concisely explains CMV in relation to blood transfusions. Billie Rubin from the Stanford Blood Center writes: ”Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a virus… Continue reading
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 1:07 pmTo be eligible to donate blood, your hemoglobin (iron level) must be at least 12.5 on the day of your donation. Because a person’s iron level fluctuates on a daily basis it is important to eat iron-rich or iron-fortified foods at least 2 weeks prior to your donation. Our staff will check your hemoglobin on… Continue reading
Remember the “this is your brain on drugs” ads with the skillet and an egg? A Harvard School of Public Health Masters Student is trying to change the world of public health by alerting the tone of the message. Versus using scare tactics, Rob Buelow argues that showcasing the norm of fellow classmates participating in… Continue reading
Posted on July 11, 2012 at 12:57 pmMany donors face the problem of low iron when they try to donate. If you are deferred because of low iron, this is by no means a permanent deferral. Your hemoglobin level fluctuates daily. We recommend several things to our donors to help boost their hemoglobin(our test for your iron levels): Eat lean red meat and liver, which… Continue reading
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:39 amHave you ever wondered what happens to a donors DNA-once blood is transfused into a patient? This article from Mental Floss explains the process well. In brief summary, most of the time nothing happens because the donors DNA never makes it to the point of transfusion. This is because blood centers divide your pint of blood into 3 possible… Continue reading
It is obvious that this country cares deeply about the health of our nation; with strong opinions on either side as to the most effective means of providing care. Since our mission is to be stewards of a healthier community, the significance of healthcare reform is something of which we have been keeping track. With… Continue reading
We care about the health and well-being of our donors, patients and the community at large. The Community Blood Center of the Carolinas has been a smoke free facility for some time, but a few weeks ago we put out signs around our Charlotte Center showing support of this healthier lifestyle choice. On June 14th,… Continue reading
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 4:48 pmHave you ever wondered what happens to the blood you donate after you roll up your sleeves? Before the blood you donate is given to local hospitals, it needs to be tested to ensure the utmost quality for our local patients. Next time you give blood, you will notice the five tubes taken while you… Continue reading