- Myth: I can’t donate if I have tattoos.
- Myth: I can’t donate if I got a piercing recently.
- Myth: I can’t donate if I’ve just been to the dentist.
- Myth: Blood can be manufactured.
- Myth: Blood donation is painful.
- Myth: Blood is only needed in times of emergency.
- Myth: Donating blood causes my body to start over producing blood cells.
- Myth: Donating blood makes you gain weight.
- Myth: Donating blood takes a long time.
- Myth: Donating blood will impact my ability to do my daily activities.
- Myth: Giving blood will harm me by taking away red cells or platelets that my body needs to function.
- Myth: I can catch an infectious disease by donating blood.
- Myth: I have a common blood type, so you don’t need my blood.
- Myth: Donating blood can harm my immune system.
- Myth: Other people are already giving enough blood.
- Myth: Vegetarians or vegans cannot donate blood.
- Who can give blood?
- Where does my blood go?
- Which patients use what blood components?
- What types of photo ID are accepted?
- What tests are performed on blood?
- What is vCJD?
- What happens when somebody tests positive for an infectious disease marker?
- What can I eat to raise my hemoglobin levels?
- Is it safe to receive blood transfusions?
- I don’t have sickle cell anemia, but I carry the trait. Can I still give blood?
- How will I feel after I give blood?
- How often can I give blood?
- How much blood is taken?
- How long does it take?
- Can I give blood for myself?
- When was Carter BloodCare founded?
- Can people with high blood pressure donate blood?
- Can people who have tested positive for HIV or AIDS donate blood?
- Can gay or bi-sexual men donate blood?
- What is Apheresis?
Therapeutic Phlebotomy
If you are on testosterone click here.
If you are diagnosed with Hereditary Hemochromatosis click here.
For all other blood disorders such as Polycythemia Vera please continue to read the information below.
What is therapeutic phlebotomy?
Some individuals require withdrawal of blood for treatment of a medical condition. Some conditions require a doctor’s prescription for therapeutic phlebotomy. Other conditions may require enrollment into a special program with or without a doctor’s prescription.
What diseases are treated with therapeutic phlebotomy?
Polycythemia vera, secondary polycythemia, porphyria cutanea tarda. Other diseases which may benefit from therapeutic phlebotomy can be ordered per individual doctor discretion. A discussion with a Carter BloodCare medical director may be needed in special circumstances.
How often can therapeutic phlebotomy be performed?
Depending on your condition, therapeutic phlebotomy may be performed a few times a year or every two to eight weeks.
How do I make an appointment for a therapeutic phlebotomy?
Therapeutic phlebotomy appointments are currently offered at all Carter BloodCare donor centers. For scheduling an appointment for Polycythemia Vera or other diagnosed blood disorders, please call 817-412-5308.