Can i donate plasma if i have low iron

Some donors, especially women, struggle with a lack of iron – or low hemoglobin in their bodies.

Iron is needed for your body to produce hemoglobin. This is important because the hemoglobin in your red blood cells carries the oxygen from your lungs to all parts of your body.

If your body does not have enough iron, you may develop iron deficiency anemia. Having iron deficiency results in fewer red blood cells being produced by your body and less oxygen is transported from your lungs, making you feel tired.

Your hemoglobin level plays a role in your ability to give blood and must be at a certain level to donate. We will check your hemoglobin levels and if the count is too low you will not be able to donate that day.

The good news is that low iron is usually a temporary condition and can often be improved simply by eating more iron rich foods. If this does not help, you can also consult with your physician about taking an iron supplement.

Meat is one of the best sources of iron. Dried beans, fortified cereals and breads as well as dark leafy vegetables are also good sources of iron. Dried fruits, nuts and seeds make healthy snacks and can also help improve iron levels.

Iron Rich Foods

On average, a woman needs 18 mg iron a day and a man needs 10 mg. See the table below for a basic reference for iron rich foods:

	FOOD	AMOUNT	AVG. MG. IRON
Grains	Wheat germ English Muffin Bran Muffin Tortillas Cooked Cereal Bread (white or whole wheat) Dry cereal	1/2 cup 1 1 1 1/2 cup 1 slice 3/4 cup	4 1.5-1.9 1.5 1 0.7 0.5 Read Label
Meat	Liver Organ meats Liver Sausage Shellfish Red meats Fish and Poultry	3 oz. 3 oz. 3 oz. 3 oz. 3 oz. 3 oz.	8-9 7 4-6 4-5 4 2-3
Meat Substitutes	Pumpkin seeds Tofu Cooked dry peas (beans, lentils, lime beans) Sunflower seeds Nuts Eggs Peanut butter	1 oz. 4 oz. 1/2 cup 1 oz. 1/3 cup 1 1 tbsp.	3.2 2.3 2-3 2 0.5-2.0 1 0.3
Fruit & Juices	Prune juice Raisins, dates, prunes Figs, apricots Watermelon Tomato juice Strawberries Apple juice Banana	3/4 cup 1/2 cup 1/2 cup 6" x 1/2" slice 3/4 cup 1 cup 3/4 cup 1 cup	7.4 3-4 3-4 3 1.6 1.5 1.1 1
Vegetables	Cooked dark leafy greens (spinach, collards, kale) Raw dark leafy greens (spinach, collards, kale) Jicama	1/2 cup 1 cup 1/3 cup	3 2 0.8
Fast Foods	Pizza (cheese or pepperoni) Beef burrito Beef taco Bean burrito Hamburger Cheeseburger	1/2 of 10" 1 1 1 1 reg. 1 reg.	4.5-5.4 4.6 2.9 2.8 2.5 2.5

Low iron is one of the most common reasons for a blood-donation deferral. Your iron levels fluctuate all day every day and can be affected by how much you have exercised that day, what you’ve eaten in the days prior and, for women, even where you are during your menstrual cycle.  

If you are tired and fatigued on a daily basis, you may worry about having low iron. Iron carries oxygen and carbon dioxide throughout the body and is needed to make new red blood cells to replace the ones you lose through day-to-day activities and blood donation.

But what if you feel fine and you’re still deferred from donating blood because of low iron levels?

Getting deferred means you have to reschedule your donation for a future date. We understand that rescheduling can be frustrating, but your health and safety is a top priority.

Even if you feel ok, your levels might be too low for the large amount of hemoglobin lost during the blood donation process.

Donating blood when your iron is low will cause your levels to drop even further, leaving you feeling tired and faint. It also affects your ability to generate new red blood cells and can cause a longer recovery time.

Every donor gets a wellness check before they donate, which consists of a test for low iron, high cholesterol screening, blood pressure check and more. By testing donors’ iron level, we can determine if you have the right amount of red blood cells for both you and the patients you want to help.

Next steps after a deferral for low iron

The good news is many people can boost their iron by adding some iron-rich foods into their diet the week before.

Try adding in meats, grains, beans, dark leafy green vegetables and dried fruit to your diet.

Also limit the amount of rigorous physical activity the day of a donation. Exercising should be part of your healthy lifestyle, so we aren’t saying to stop completely. Just save the heavy lifting and 5k run for a different day.

Getting deferred for low iron shouldn't get you down. Reschedule your donation today! 

If you are still having trouble donating blood due to low iron after implementing these tips, talk with your doctor about taking an iron supplement. 

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