My high school held a blood drive on Feb. 8, and my state allows 16 year olds to donate with parental consent. I turned 16 two weeks ago. During the necessary tests, I had told the nurse screening me that I was anxious because I have alpha thalassmia minor and it might inhibit my ability to donate (hemoglobin level wise). She told me to wait and called who I presume is a professional. She asked about thalassmia and proceeded to tell me the good and bad news. Good news: I am completely healthy with a hemoglobin level of 12.8 and would be able donate. Bad News: Because of thalassmia and their current technology, my whole blood cannot be filtered for red blood cells, plasma, and platelets. She stated that since my blood cannot be separated it would just be disposed of. She said did not want my blood to be wasted and that I cannot donate.
And yes, I did indeed tell the nurse I researched a little online and that I would be able to donate as long as I was not anemic at the time. The nurse still said the same thing: my blood would just be wasted because they would not have the ability to separate for the necessary components. Completely overcome with shock, I reluctantly returned to class.
Now, that brings up the question, why was there no information on this? I looked up practically everything on this. Most if not everyone of them stated that blood donation is possible as long as you are not anemic. I was deferred from donating blood even though I was not anemic?
The closest thing that I saw briefly mentioned in one of the articles was that thalassmia may slightly change the shape of red blood cells. This could be the reason why it is so difficult to separate. However, this is all I could think of.
What are your opinions on this?