Clinically withdrawn from donating blood. Change in testing Hb levels.

[BringBackCatsEyes]

I'm a bit sad. I can no longer donate blood.
I only have one arm with a decent enough vein.
They've changed the way they test for iron if you fail the drop test. They now take a venous sample. If they have to do that you cannot donate from that arm.
My blood often fails the drop test but passes the more accurate one so I've been able to donate (39 so far over 38 years). I am strong and healthy - just don't have oodles of spare iron and I have very small veins.
Now I'm past menopause I was looking forward to my iron levels being more stable. With kids growing up, I am more flexible with my time and could have donated more frequently.

I am not questioning their reasoning, I'm just a bit sad that I can no longer do this. DS2 turns 17 in March so maybe he will 'replace' me.

I took a bag of crisps AND a mince pie to console myself.

I was really sad when I had to give up too. My HB level was always a bit borderline and eventually I fell below just too often. I can’t see an Orange Club Biscuit without mourning my donation days.

I'm a bit miffed with NHSBT to be honest. I have over 50 donations and have seen policies get increasingly restrictive and exclusive. There will be some clinical rationale behind the change in policy, but I really don't think they have thought through the impact of some of their changes, which I think are overly restrictive.

I tend to agree. Combined with the increasing difficulty in finding a suitable appointment (no more blood mobiles at work places), and the increase in them being cancelled, often just a few hours before.
They will need some good marketing to encourage more people to donate.
Isn't a really small number of eligible people who donate?

I have MGUS show up on a blood test once. Never to be repeated. But I can’t give blood again.

@BringBackCatsEyes , I feel your frustration and usually face the same situation, I usually fail the drop test but would often pass the more accurate one, last time I gave blood had to go through the new process and have a sample taken from my arm that they always really struggle with and ended up with a very sore and bruised arm on that side for a few weeks , whereas my donating arm was absolutely fine.

So, I just called them (having seen I've been locked out of my account already - rude!) and the chap was so lovely.
Says he's answered SO many calls since the new venous Hb test has come in.
He has put a note querying why after all these years and donations, the vein with a pulse is now an issue. If it was an issue just today (cold, not hydrated enough) then I shouldn't be withdrawn for ever. If it's an issue I've always had then why has no one spotted it before. I have def donated from that arm before.

Maybe the drop test needs to be improved. My Hb was 132, the vein in my left arm was fine (probably).

I have a minor heart issue. It causes me no problems and the constant has no issue with me donating blood. But I made the mistake of ticking the box and it was a hard no to donating ever again. It made me genuinely sad. I think that in some cases the donor should be allowed to assess the risk - in my case it would take no more time to donate, require no extra precautions and there is nothing wrong with my blood.

if your veins are really that bad it's probably a good idea to stop - you may need that vein one day! (doi fwiw, just spent the day cannulating naff veins!)

I don’t think they are bad.
I know they are quite thin, which I think is genetic.
I don’t know what it means that they could see my pulse in vein they would normally use. Is that a problem (for health not just donating)?

Take a sachet of spatone every day - and two sachets in the two weeks before you donate and you’ll not ever fail the drop test.

Even though I am no longer considered a risk for vCJD, my nearest donation centre is a 4.5 drive.

I may have to stop donating too. I've given over 100 units, and until about 5 years ago had no problems. My usual donating arm has a vein which has now tissued, and I've been giving from the other arm. Unfortunately, it's a very "wandering" vein, and my last three donations were failures; so they'll no longer try that arm. The nurse did say that they might be able to draw from below the scar tissue in the original arm, but I'm recovering mentally from my last attempts first. I'm especially annoyed, because my town had just acquired a permanent donation centre, which would have saved going all over the town to temporary sites.

I failed the iron test several donations ago so now I just take iron tablets and eat lots of green veg leading up to the donation and I pass every time.

I’m on 66 donations and would love to get to 75. I think I’ll be too old to get to 100 but you never know.

peripheral arm veins don't usually pulsate. Assuming there's no huge back story of having heart failure, the commonest explanation would be that either it's an artery or a vein that's right next to and artery and the pulse is being transmitted. If they can't tell the difference they definitely shouldn't be sticking a needle in it.

I definitely don't have heart failure.
I dunno. She def didn't want to stick anything in it today and said that it would have been negligent of others to have done so.
Since the late 80s? For tens of donations? I don't understand.

I've never failed the drop test but am getting sick of the situation with appointments. Had one booked (months ago) for tomorrow at 5.30. Planned my day around it. Got a text at the weekend saying sorry, cancelled. Well that's a bit annoying. Then another saying the session time has changed please re-book. Try but the latest appointment is at 4.15 and I just can't do that at such short notice. So I have re-booked for February. I too think I will pack it in at 75 donations (on 64).

I just cancelled my 40th donation having been told? following a blood test, that I have low ferritin stores....GP was happy for me to continue unless I failed the blood drop test but I think that's me done

I failed the drop test on Monday... passed the venous one, just!
But it's the first time I have given blood in 5 years, because once it became appointment only it has become so difficult to fit one in! I used to drop in on the way home from work, but now I'm either working later, or looking after grandkids and booking one in , at a place I can get to, is proving a major pain.

I think the changes will mean fewer and fewer donations :(

You are such good people! This is such a meaningful contribution.
Mice pies & crisps for everyone.

Mmmm yummy mice pies! That would probably increase my iron levels!

I am a very recent blood donor - 9 donations now - and usually fail the 'drop into liquid' test but pass the venous test with flying colours. I'm lucky that I have (I'm told) excellent veins so hoping to keep giving as long as I can.

need to make sure I don't go on my phone whilst the blood is pumping out as it slows down the whole process and I want to get a sub 5 minute donation at least once in my life

I can't donate as I've had a blood donation myself. Fine, except I received the donation abroad in a country with no know vCJD risk. I assume they can't account for every possible permutation though. Think I managed about 5 donations before they brought that rule in.

I guess that just can't take any chances, donors anywhere in the world might have come to Britain and been infected.

I thought the biggest risk was here. Other countries won't take our blood.

You aren’t alone OP, I got canned a few years ago as I have a rare blood type so they don’t want it. it’s a shame really as it’s something I enjoyed doing and I know how much our stocks are always under pressure.