My blood bank refuses to take my donations

[DarkMan X]

I have a Rx from my prescriber of TRT, but NY Red Cross simply refused to accept it and sent me to my local hospital for a blood donation. But now, my local hospital's blood donation center has closed too.

Is this about money? Why didn't they say so? I'd easily pay them!

I thought I was simply "too honest" on the intake computer questionnaire and I foolishly told them that I take injectable TRT. Was this my worst sin? Being too fucking honest?

Where can I simply go - pay them - and ask them to take the amount specified and throw it out if they have to? WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON HERE? THIS IS FUCKING SERIOUS!

 

[TornCallus29]

I don't think being honest was the problem. Sounds more like a policy issue than anything else.

 

[WhiteMale]

In their viewpoint, you're not healthy for a blood donation or your blood to be in the supply.

Answer their health questionnaire honestly but never tell them more than that.

 

[DarkMan X]

In their viewpoint, you're not healthy for a blood donation

"Not healthy"? Why the HELL would they think I'm not healthy?

Are you purposely being so vague?

 

[Vince]

I'm really surprised they won't take your blood. Before my HCT stabilized they loved when I donated blood. They use my red blood cells for people who were low on red blood cells. I even worked with a lady who needed red blood cells. She was always happy when I donated blood.

 

[mooseman109]

I have a Rx from my prescriber of TRT, but NY Red Cross simply refused to accept it and sent me to my local hospital for a blood donation. But now, my local hospital's blood donation center has closed too.

Is this about money? Why didn't they say so? I'd easily pay them!

I thought I was simply "too honest" on the intake computer questionnaire and I foolishly told them that I take injectable TRT. Was this my worst sin? Being too fucking honest?

Where can I simply go - pay them - and ask them to take the amount specified and throw it out if they have to? WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON HERE? THIS IS FUCKING SERIOUS!

 

[mooseman109]

I have been down your road. I also was denied by red cross after years of donating. I went in and thier little hemaglobin machine said I was too high. Soon thereafter I got a letter I could no longer donate as I possibly had polycemia vera. I went to blood dr and he ran a million tests scanning for that and all kinds of myelomas. All clean. Red cross did not care! They did send me to thier therapeutic donation division. Same procedure at clinic but they say they only use the blood for experimental purposes. So i had to call this very nice lady every 3 months and make an appt and pay $70. Then I could get an appt made and go in like normal. We must mot forget that the red cross gave folks HIV back in the day due to loose protocols.
So aak them about their therapeutic phlebotomy division, it was still xheaper than going to my local hospital.

 

[DarkMan X]

I have been down your road. I also was denied by red cross after years of donating. I went in and thier little hemaglobin machine said I was too high. Soon thereafter I got a letter I could no longer donate as I possibly had polycemia vera. I went to blood dr and he ran a million tests scanning for that and all kinds of myelomas. All clean. Red cross did not care! They did send me to thier therapeutic donation division. Same procedure at clinic but they say they only use the blood for experimental purposes. So i had to call this very nice lady every 3 months and make an appt and pay $70. Then I could get an appt made and go in like normal. We must mot forget that the red cross gave folks HIV back in the day due to loose protocols.
So aak them about their therapeutic phlebotomy division, it was still xheaper than going to my local hospital.

I hope they have a therapeutic phlebotomy/donation division.

But it must be in a different building because they made me leave the blood bank.

I hope to GOD that you're right!

 

[Nelson Vergel]

Here is a list of places that can accept therapeutic phlebotomies in the US:

Therapeutic Phlebotomy Places in the United States for Men on TRT

 

[Nelson Vergel]

U.S. Blood Centers That Accept Therapeutic Phlebotomy Orders From Doctors

For men on TRT with high hematocrit (polycythemia), most centers will draw your blood if your physician faxes or emails a therapeutic phlebotomy order. The order is typically good for two years. Some centers run dedicated TRT/hemochromatosis "crossover" programs that draw at no cost when you meet regular donor criteria; a special handling fee may apply if you need to draw more often than every 56 days or don't meet standard eligibility. Once hematocrit passes ~53%, many centers will still draw but discard the unit.

National / Multi-Region Networks

• Vitalant (nationwide) - Runs a Hereditary Hemochromatosis & Testosterone Therapy program. Book online if you don't need to draw more often than every 56 days; otherwise submit a physician order and call 480-675-5554 or email [email protected]. Hereditary Hemochromatosis & Testosterone Therapy | Vitalant
• American Red Cross - https://www.redcross.org/give-blood.html
• America's Blood Centers (find your local community blood center) - Find a Blood Center
• Blood Centers of America (locator) - Find a Location - Blood Centers of America
• LifeSouth Community Blood Centers (AL, MS, GA, N. Florida) - https://donors.lifesouth.org/donor/schedules/zip
• Defy Medical Store (nationwide therapeutic phlebotomy orders, except NY and RI) - Therapeutic Phlebotomy

Centers With Dedicated TRT Programs

• Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center (Houston, TX) - TRT donors may draw more often than 8 weeks; no fees; therapeutic order kept on file.
• Carter BloodCare (Texas) - FDA variance allows draws every 14 days; no-cost phlebotomy for TRT donors meeting allogeneic criteria.
• We Are Blood (Austin, TX) - "TTCX" crossover program; physician order needed only for <56-day intervals or other disqualifiers.
• Kentucky Blood Center, Versiti, LifeShare - all accommodate TRT therapeutic needs.

State-by-State Directory

• Alabama - LifeSouth Community Blood Centers
• Alaska - Blood Bank of Alaska
• Arkansas - Arkansas Blood Institute
• California - Central California Blood Center; Houchin Community Blood Bank; LifeStream Blood Bank; Northern California Community Blood Bank; San Diego Blood Bank; Stanford Blood Center; UCLA Blood & Platelet Center
• Colorado - St. Mary's Hospital Blood Center
• Delaware - Blood Bank of Delmarva
• Florida - Innovative Transfusion Medicine; LifeSouth; OneBlood; SunCoast Blood Centers; Winter Haven Hospital Community Blood Center
• Georgia - Atlanta Blood Services; LifeSouth; Shepeard Community Blood Center; The Blood Connection
• Hawaii - Blood Bank of Hawaii
• Illinois - ImpactLife; Community Blood Services of Illinois; Rock River Valley Blood Center; Versiti Illinois
• Indiana - South Bend Medical Foundation; Versiti Indiana
• Iowa - ImpactLife; LifeServe Blood Center
• Kentucky - Kentucky Blood Center; Western Kentucky Regional Blood Center
• Louisiana - East Jefferson General Hospital Blood Bank; LifeShare Blood Center; Ochsner Blood Bank; Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center; The Blood Center
• Michigan - Versiti Michigan
• Mississippi - Mississippi Blood Services
• Missouri - Community Blood Center (Kansas City); Community Blood Center of the Ozarks; ImpactLife
• Nebraska - Nebraska Community Blood Bank
• New York - ConnectLife; New York Blood Center
• North Carolina - The Blood Connection
• Ohio - Hoxworth Blood Center; Solvita (formerly Community Blood Center, Dayton); Versiti Ohio; Vitalant
• Oklahoma - Oklahoma Blood Institute
• Oregon - Bloodworks Northwest
• Pennsylvania - Central Pennsylvania Blood Bank; Community Blood Bank of NW Pennsylvania and Western NY; Miller-Keystone Blood Center
• Rhode Island - Rhode Island Blood Center
• South Carolina - The Blood Connection
• Tennessee - Blood Assurance; LIFELINE Blood Services; Marsh Regional Blood Center; MEDIC Regional Blood Center
• Texas - Baylor Scott & White Blood Center; Carter BloodCare; Coastal Bend Blood Center; Coffee Memorial Blood Center; Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center; Hendrick Regional Blood Center; South Texas Blood & Tissue Center; Texas Blood Institute; We Are Blood
• Utah - ARUP Blood Services
• Virginia - Inova Blood Donor Services
• Washington - Cascade Regional Blood Services; Bloodworks Northwest
• Wisconsin - ImpactLife; Blood Center of Northcentral Wisconsin; Memorial Blood Centers; The Community Blood Center; Versiti Wisconsin

Call your local center before your first visit to confirm their current order form, fax number, and fee policy. Draw your labs well-hydrated for an accurate hematocrit reading.