Blood donors - Advice please

[Fimbles5]

Went to give blood yesterday as I have done for a number of years, and for the first time ever my blood did not settle to the bottom of the tube when doing the finger prick test. As far as I am aware and as the donor carer advised this relates to anaemia. Should I be worried? I don't think this is a major problem more of a worry as I can't explain why this happened this time. Sorry is silly question!?!

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This used to happen to me all the time and over the years i only managed to give 10 donations before they told me i needed my blood more than they did!

I've taken several courses of iron tabs over the years but found the red ferrous gluconate ones were better than the white ferrous sulfate as they played less havoc with my bowels, as iron can constipate you.

It's nothing to worry about Fimbles - though i didn't think about the soap and handcream affecting the drop test - good point Tobysmum.

I have always been a hit and miss donor ie my iron levels are naturally quite low and sometimes don't meet the Donor services required levels. Apparantly they have recently put up the level of Hg required from 12 to 12.5 so I doubt I'll ever manage to donate again
Could be why you weren't able to donate this time.

they do have a high requirement (i guess to compensate what theyre taking) i cant give because og low iron levels either

i went to give blood the other week, firstly they questionned whether I was the correct weight ( I was) then the test showed my iron levels were low.
Funnily I'd had blood taken at the hospital the day before due to tiredness etc .
because i'd had a blood test the previous day they just said to come back next time ( wait for results
MY results were actually fine from the lab ... so not sure whats going on with their testing.

this has happened to me a couple of times. I've been sent home cluthing a leaflet about iron! They do set their levels very high, so I don't worry about it. Trial & error has taught me not to go after gym session & I always eat something really good like salmon & lentils the night before.