Refused blood donation

[Ric.ror]

I was unable to give blood yesterday. First I failed the initial drop test and then the nurses were unable to access a vein.
My friend suggested I take a multi vitamin with iron
Is this likely to work

[ummmm]

If you failed the drop test why were they trying to find a vein?

[Ric.ror]

Well before they reject you they try to do a more thorough test by taking a larger sample from your non donating arm and placing it in a machine that is a more comprehensive test.
They could not find a vein in my arm that seemed deep enough to take the sample

[4getmenot]

No there is a reason you cant give blood so dont.

[sara3]

they didn't offer any advice?

[daffy654]

Were you quite cold when they tried to get the blood? I don't donate blood but over the years have had dozens of blood tests, I always try to make sure i'm warm when the blood is drawn as being cold forces the veins to constrict.

[JonnyBoy12]

Does this mean you feel guilty about this or not? Did they give you a cup of tea and biscuit anyway?

[wishy123]

I think if there was any underlying concern, or any treatment they thought would help, they would have referred you to your GP. I'd say vitamins and iron would be unlikely to have any significant effect.

Could you elaborate on 'failed the drop test'? What exactly happened? I've given blood a few times and not seen this.

[sara3]

they always drop a droplet of blood into a solution to check your iron levels before donating.

[scotman]

I used to donate blood. I can only do it from my left arm. The veins in my right are not prominent enough. I can't comment on failing the drop test as obviously I didn't.

[Eve]

Do you mean work as you think there is a problem with you or work as in you could then give blood?

Unless there is a long term reason why you can't there is nothing to stop you popping in and checking if the situation has changed in the future.

I can't give blood as I'm on immunosuppressants but I popped in (we have a permanent centre in the city centre) a while back to check whether anything had changed and I could give again and they were lovely about it. Made me stay for a cup of tea and a biscuit even though I couldn't give them any blood - felt quite guilty but they insisted.

[wishy123]

I was once the last one in a session and they sent me home with all the leftover biscuits - great!

Sadly now unable to donate as morbidly obese and unable to leave the house lol

[LazyGun]

Do, the initial drop test is the Copper Sulphate test. Its a solution of Copper Sulphate, specific gravity 1.05something. A drop of blood with a Haemoglobin greater than 12.5g/dl will sink. So by failing the initial drop test, this would appear to indicate your Hb is lower than 12.5.

The reason they try to find a vein if someone has failed the drop test, is to follow the usual procedure of taking a venous blood sample for at the least a Haematocrit measurement, more probably a Full Blood Count, which measures several clinically significant parameters. This, in turn, should establish whether anaemia is actually present, and if so ,what the likely type / cause is.

Taking a mulitvitamin with iron might possibly help if for example you were actually anaemic, and the reason for the anaemia a shortage of iron - but even more important in that case is to find out why you are short if iron. Dietary insufficiency, familial trait in not processing iron, bleeding ulcer / chronic bleeding syndrome. Each cause may require a different treatment response.

Being able to access the vein has little to do with any hypothetical anaemia. Thats just down to your venous physiology and the expertise of the staff.

[Ric.ror]

Well thanks for that
I did feel a little disappointed when I was unable to donate (btw they offer you a drink and biscuits before you go in but I always take my own)
I have decided to try a multi vit (it can't hurt)
As for them being unable to access a vein-well thats just being an ongoing thing throughout my life - had lots of trouble when I was pregnant and nothing seems to have changed in 20 years!
I have drastically reduced my red meat intake over the last two years so that maybe a factor. All other advice (orange juice with meals etc) I already do
I guess it's just going to be a bit hit and miss for me but as I am rh neg I dont intend to give up

[Ric.ror]

It could be an inherited condition though as my cousins had iron injections through their pregnancies and I came close to it myself