MAKING YOUR BLOOD DONATION SAFE

Thank you for your interest in donating blood.  The following information explains how YOU can help us make the donation process safe for yourself and patients who might receive your blood.  If you have any questions at all please call us at (559) 389-5433, ext. 5901.

Accuracy and Honesty are Essential!
Your complete honesty in answering all questions during the donation process is very important for the safety of patients who receive your blood.  All information you provide is confidential.

Donation Process:
To determine if you are eligible to donate we will:
-Ask questions about health, travel and medicines
-Ask questions to see if you might be at risk for hepatitis, HIV, or AIDs
-Take your blood pressure, temperature and pulse
-Take a small blood sample to make sure you are not anemic

Donor Eligibility - Specific Information
Why we ask about sexual contact:
Sexual contact may cause contagious diseases like HIV to get into the bloodstream and
be spread through transfusions to someone else.

Definition of "sexual contact":
The words "have sexual contact with" and "sex" are used in some of the questions we will ask you, and apply to any of the activities below, whether or not a condom or other protection was used:
1.  Vaginal sex (contact between penis and vagina)
2.  Oral sex (mouth or tongue on someone's vagina, penis or anus)
3.  Anal sex (contact between penis and anus)

HIV/AIDS Risk Behaviors and Symptoms
AIDS is caused by HIV.  HIV is spread mainly through sexual contact with an infected person OR by sharing needles or syringes used for injecting drugs. 

Do not Donate if You:
-Have AIDS or have ever had a positive HIV test
-Have ever used needles to take drugs, steroids, or anything not prescribed by a doctor
-Are a male who has had sexual contact with another male, even once, since 1977
-Have ever taken money, drugs or other payment for sex since 1977
-Have had sexual contact in the past 12 months with anyone described above
-Have had syphilis or gonorrhea in the past 12 months
-In the last 12 months have been in juvenile detention, lockup, jail or prison for more than 72 hours
-Have any of the following conditions that can be signs or sypmptoms of HIV/AIDS:

• Unexplained weight loss or night sweats
• Blue or purple spots in your mouth or skin
• Swollen lymph nodes for more than one month
• White spots or unusual sores in your mouth
• Cough that won't go away or shortness of breath
• Diarrhea that won't go away
• Fever of more than 100.5 degrees for more than 10 days

Remember that you CAN give HIV to someone through blood transfusions even if you feel well and have a negative HIV test.  This is because tests cannot detect infections for a period of time after a person is exposed to HIV.  If you think you may be at risk for HIV/AIDS or want an HIV/AIDS test, please ask for information about other testing facilities.  PLEASE DO NOT DONATE TO GET AN HIV TEST!

Travel to or birth in other countries
Blood donor tests may not be available for some contagious diseases that are found only in certain countries.  If you were born in, have lived in, or visited certain countries, you may not be eligible to donate.

What happens after your donation:
To protect patients, your blood is tested for hepatitis B and C, HIV, certain other infectious diseases and syphilis.  If your blood tests positive it will not be given to a patient.  You will be notified about test results that may disqualify you from donating in the future.  Please do not donate to get tested for HIV, hepatitis, or any other infection!

Confidential HIV testing may be available at the following Valley facilities: