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[Blood Facts] [Blood Safety] [Donor Eligibility] [Red Blood Cell Supply]

A safe blood supply is vitally important. Most people choose to donate because they want to share their healthy blood with someone who needs it. Some potential donors, however, may have been exposed to diseases which can be spread through blood. Specifically, some people can be at high risk for exposure to HIV (the virus which causes AIDS) or hepatitis without realizing it. Red Cross asks lifestyle and behavior questions prior to donation to prevent the spread if communicable diseases.

The American Red Cross does several things to protect the blood supply from HIV:

    • The Red Cross educated donors about who should give blood by having every potential donor read the publication, "What You Must Know Before Giving Blood."
    • Trained staff interview potential donors and review their medical history
    • Donors have the opportunity both before and after the donation to stop, and anonymously instruct the Red Cross not to use their blood for transfusion to patients.
    • The Red Cross tests every donor’s blood each time he or she donates. Highly sensitive tests performed on samples from each blood donation are effective in detecting HIV exposure.
    • All blood that tests positive for any disease is destroyed.

Donors with blood that is confirmed positive for infectious diseases are notified and have the opportunity to meet with a specially-trained, profession Red Cross donor counselor. However, it must be very clear that the American Red Cross test blood products, not donors. The community needs healthy donors. If an individual would like to be tested for AIDS, they may contact their local health department. Testing through these agencies is free and may be done anonymously.

Some donors still ask if it is possible to get AIDS from donating blood. This is impossible. The Red Cross uses a needle only once and then it is disposed of. Sterile procedures and disposable equipment are used in all Red Cross donor centers. You cannot get any bacterial or viral disease - including HIV - from donating blood.

The American Red Cross makes every effort to protect the blood supply from the AIDS virus. The risk of being infected with HIV from a blood transfusion is very low. The risk of infection exists during what is called the "window period." This is the time between the actual infection with HIV and when the test can detect the presence of the virus or antibodies to the virus in a person’s blood. An estimate of the length of this period is now 12-16 days.

Since the Red Cross began testing blood for the HIV-antibody in early 1985, the risk of HIV-contaminated blood entering the blood supply has dropped dramatically. According to latest medical research, the chance of receiving an HIV-infected transfusion is estimated to be 1 in 676,000 or less.

Content © 1999 American Red Cross Southern California Region Blood Services
1130 South Vermont Ave. • Los Angeles, CA 90006 • (800)GIVE LIFE

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