Frequently Asked Questions
OneBlood is a non-profit blood center that has been serving the community for over 75 years by providing a safe and ample blood supply. As the exclusive blood supplier to over 200 hospitals across Florida, their mission is critical. To encourage and recognize frequent blood donors, OneBlood has launched a new donor loyalty program called OneBloodRewards.
However, below are the most frequently asked questions regarding your account/Donor Portal, Donation, Eligibility, My OneBlood Journey, Rewards & Challenges and a lot more.
Account/Donor Portal
I didn’t get my Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) code.
If you haven’t received your Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) code, please follow these steps to troubleshoot the issue:
- To receive the Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) code, you must be opted in to a form of communication – text, or email – that you would like to receive the code through.
- For Text Message Opt-in: If you are opted out of text messages and choose the text message option to receive your code, you will be automatically opted back in to text communications.
- For Email Opt-in: please call us at 888-936-6283, option 4, and we will be happy to assist you
- Check your Connection: Ensure that your device has a stable internet connection. MFA codes are typically sent via SMS or email, both of which require a reliable connection.
- Check Spam Folder: Sometimes, MFA codes may be filtered into your email’s spam or junk folder. Please check these folders to see if the code was mistakenly marked as spam.
- Wait for Delivery: MFA codes are usually delivered promptly, but occasional can take 2-3 minutes. Wait for a few minutes and check your device again.
- Verify Mobile Number & Email: Confirm that the phone number or email address associated with your MFA settings is correct, and you are opted in to communications. If there’s a mistake, please call us at 888-936-6283, option 4, and we will be happy to assist you.
I am getting an error when creating an account.
There are several reasons that you could be having issues when creating an account. Please work through the list below to identify the error:
- All information in the required fields is correct.
- You are using the email you provided at the time of your donation
- You are using a unique email not associated with other donors. Duplicate emails will not be accepted.
- Please do not use a nickname or shortened version of your name. All information must match what was provided at the time of your blood donation.
If you are still encountering issues, please reach out to a Customer Service Representative at 1-888-936-6283 for further assistance.
I cannot sign in to my Donor Portal.
If you are a returning blood donor and have already created your account, please make sure that you are using the correct email address to sign in. If you do not remember your password, you can click on forgot password to request a reset.
If you are signing in after your first donation with OneBlood and did not create an account at the time of your appointment booking, please create an account today.
How do I change my email and/or cell phone number?
Be sure to provide your accurate email and cellphone number at the time of your donation or when creating an account online.
To change or update your email or cellphone number, please reach out to a Customer Service Representative at 1-888-936-6283 for further assistance.
My password reset is not working.
If you have requested a password reset and have not received the email, please make sure that you are using the email address that was used to create the account. If all this information is correct, please reach out to a Customer Service Representative at 1-888-936-6283 for further assistance
When I sign in to my Donor Portal, there is no donation information.
If you have signed in to your Donor Portal more than 48 hours after your blood donation and do not see your donation wellness results, please check for any alerts at the top of the screen to enter your barcode unit number. For more information, please reach out to a Customer Service Representative at 1-888-936-6283 for further assistance.
Why aren’t all my blood donation test result records in my Donor Portal?
OneBlood provides all donors with a complimentary health screening. Your Donor Portal will show your total cholesterol, pulse, blood pressure, iron, temperature and blood type.
If you are concerned about the additional testing that your blood donation undergoes, reach out to our Donor Advocacy Department at 1-888-936-6283, extension 33858. Please note that if any result comes back abnormal, OneBlood will mail you a letter providing you with additional resources and information.
Donation
Does donating blood hurt?
You may feel a slight sting or a very minor pinch when the needle is first inserted. It is no different than the feeling you experience when having routine blood work performed.
How long does the actual blood donation process take?
Whole blood donation takes about 8-10 minutes. Automated procedures can take anywhere from 30-90 minutes, depending on the procedure type.
How much blood is taken during a blood donation?
A whole blood donation is typically 1 pint of blood.
Is there anything I should do before I donate blood?
1. Drink plenty of water prior to donating.
2. Eat a light, healthy meal. Avoid fatty foods. Donating blood on an empty stomach is not recommended.
3. Eat iron-rich foods for a few days leading up to your blood donation. Your iron count must be at a certain level in order to donate blood. We will check your iron count prior to your blood donation, and if it is too low you will not be able to donate blood that day.
What should I bring when I donate?
On the day of your donation, wear comfortable clothing, preferably with a short-sleeved T-shirt. Bring your picture ID and a list of any medications you are taking. If you are 16 years old (17 in North Carolina), you will need a signed parental/guardian consent form.
Examples of picture ID include a driver’s license, employee ID, student ID, or a yearbook photo with accompanying first and last name.
Who needs automated products?
Patients with cancer or leukemia, transplant recipients, and patients with blood disorders need automated products
What is hemoglobin?
Hemoglobin is a protein in your body that contains iron and gives blood its red color. Hemoglobin is responsible for carrying oxygen from your lungs to nourish all of the tissues in your body.
What is iron?
Iron is needed to make hemoglobin, a protein that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of your body. Iron helps your body make new red blood cells and can help replace those lost after blood donations
We do not test for HDL and LDL because:
- We only use a screening lab, not a diagnostic lab, for testing. We only look for certain pathogens/diseases that could affect a patient in a negative or positive way.
- We require our donors to eat iron-rich foods before donating, which can affect the HDL/LDL readings.
- Also: to test for HDL/LDL, you must fast before drawing the blood. Since we take a pint of blood from the body, this could cause donors to react or pass out.
If you would like to be tested for HDL/LDL, then it would be best to contact your doctor for any concerns.
Is there anything I should do after donating blood?
- Drink plenty of water.
- Avoid alcohol for 24 hours.
- Avoid lifting heavy items and rigorous exercise for the remainder of the day.
Can I contract a disease from donating blood?
No. There is no risk of contracting a disease through the donation process. Each collection kit is sterile, pre-packaged and only used once.
Is OneBlood regulated by the FDA?
OneBlood, and all blood centers in the United States, are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As a regulated agency, blood centers are required by law to follow all rules, guidelines and deferral policies put in place by the FDA.
Why was my appointment cancelled?
A couple of reasons why your appointment may have been canceled:
- You may not be eligible to donate yet.
- A drive was moved or canceled.
I came to donate blood and the Big Red Bus was not there.
We highly recommend appointments when coming to donate blood but understand that many cannot make them. In the event that a blood drive is canceled, individuals with an appointment will be notified.
Unforeseen circumstances can cause a drive to cancel, such as poor weather, staff scheduling issues, or mechanical issues with a bus.
OneBlood will exhaust all avenues to get the bus to the scheduled location. Please reach out to a Customer Service Representative at 1-888-936-6283 for further assistance.
What is my donated blood tested for?
After your donation, a sample of your blood will be sent to our state-of-the-art testing facility.
Your blood type will be determined, and multiple tests will be performed to ensure your blood is safe for transfusion. Tests performed include:
- Red blood cell antibody screen
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- HIV 1/2
- HTLV I/II
- Syphilis
- Cholesterol
- West Nile Virus
- T. Cruzi (Chagas)
Certain donations may also be tested for:
- CMV (Cytomegalovirus)
- HLA antibody screen
Eligibility
What is the age requirement to donate blood?
You must be at least 16 years old to donate blood (17 in North Carolina). All 16-years-olds must provide a signed parental/guardian consent form to donate. Some schools may require a signed consent form for 17-year-olds. Please check with your school for details.
You are never too old to donate blood. If you are in good health and qualify for other eligibility guidelines, you can donate blood – regardless of age. A number of OneBlood’s regular donors are over the age of 80.
What is the weight requirement to donate blood?
You must weigh at least 110 pounds to donate whole blood. For a double red cell donation, men must weight at least 130 pounds and be 5’1″ or taller; women must weigh at least 150 pounds and be 5’5″ or taller.
Can I donate blood if I have low blood pressure?
Yes, as long as you feel well and your blood pressure at the time of donation is at least 90 systolic (first number) and 50 diastolic (second number).
Can I donate blood if I have high blood pressure?
Yes, as long as you feel well and your blood pressure at the time of donation is below 180 systolic (first number) and 100 diastolic (second number). Taking medication to control high blood pressure does not prevent you from donating blood.
What does the term deferred donor mean?
OneBlood is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As such, each donor must meet certain eligibility requirements in order to donate blood. If a donor does not meet one or more of the eligibility requirements, they would be deferred from donating that d
If I was deferred in the past from donating, am I able to donate in the future?
It depends on the reason you were deferred. Some deferrals are temporary, and others are permanent. For example, if a donor’s iron count is too low, they would be temporarily deferred until they are able to get their iron levels into the necessary range by eating iron-rich foods. Visit our Am I Eligible page for more information.
Can I donate blood if I have low iron or anemia?
If you present to donate and have a low iron count, you will not be eligible to donate blood. We understand that rescheduling can be frustrating, but your health and safety is a top priority. Low iron is one of the most common reasons for deferral from donating blood.
When your iron is low, donating blood 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.
Eating certain types of red meat, fortified cereal, and leafy green vegetables may help increase your iron count. Find out more about low iron and blood donations here.
Can I donate blood if I have asthma?
Yes, as long as you have no limitations on daily activities and are not having difficulty breathing at the time of donation. Medications for asthma does not disqualify you from donating.
Can I donate blood if I am on birth control?
Donors taking oral contraceptives and those using other forms of birth control are eligible to donate.
Can I donate blood if I have diabetes?
Diabetics whose illness is well controlled on insulin or oral medications are eligible to donate.
Can I donate blood if I am on insulin?
Donors with diabetes who take any kind of insulin are eligible to donate as long as their diabetes is well controlled
Can I donate blood if I have/ had cancer?
Most localized skin cancers are not a reason to stop you from donating blood. Because many different types of cancer exist, we will ask you a few questions regarding your diagnosis, and in some cases the blood center medical director may make the final determination on the deferral.
Most often, people who are free of relapse a year after completion of treatment are able to donate blood.
Can I donate blood if I recently got a tattoo or body piercing?
People who received a tattoo at a state-licensed and regulated facility are now eligible to donate blood once the area has healed. People who received a tattoo at a non-regulated facility must wait 3 months before they can donate blood.
People who received any type of body piercing done with single-use equipment are now eligible to donate blood once the area has healed. All other types of piercings require a 3-month wait before donating blood.
Can I donate blood if I am pregnant?
Pregnant women are not eligible to donate blood, but they become eligible 6 weeks after giving birth. Women who are nursing are encouraged to drink plenty of water both before and after donating blood.
Because of a medical condition known as TRALI (transfusion-related acute lung injury), blood centers may question women about prior pregnancies. The question is intended to protect the recipient of the donated blood, since pregnancy may cause women to develop antibodies that could harm a recipient.
Can I donate blood if I recently had a surgery or minor illness?
Donors must feel well at the time of the blood donation, so a cold, flu, or allergies may temporarily prevent someone from donating blood. Donors must wait at least 24 hours after many minor surgeries, including dental work, before donating.
Donors should rely on our screening process to determine surgery or illness deferrals. In some cases, the blood center medical director may make this determination.
Can I donate blood if I recently received a flu shot?
Yes, you can donate any time after receiving a flu vaccine
Can I donate blood if I am taking medication?
Most medications do not disqualify you from donating blood; however, the condition you are being treated for or medication you are taking may result in you being deferred from donating blood. See below for a general list of medications that could impact your ability to donate blood.
If you are taking aspirin you can donate whole blood.
Platelet donors cannot take aspirin, or any products containing aspirin, for at least two full calendar days prior to your appointment. For example, if you take aspirin products on Sunday, the soonest you may donate platelets is Wednesday.
Can I donate blood if I smoke weed/marijuana?
The use of cannabis does not disqualify an individual from blood donation, but potential donors cannot give if their use of cannabis impairs their memory or comprehension.
What is the FDA blood donor deferral policy regarding men who have sex with men (MSM)?
On August 21, 2023, OneBlood implemented the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) new individual donor assessment guidance for all blood donors.
What You Need to Know
- All potential donors, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, will be asked the same questions to determine if they are eligible to donate blood.
- The new FDA policy further ensures the safety of the blood supply, treats all potential donors equally, and allows more people to donate blood.
- The FDA’s previous donor eligibility criteria based on sexual orientation, which made it challenging for gay and bisexual men to donate blood, has been eliminated.
- Safety of the blood supply is OneBlood’s top priority. All blood donations undergo more than a dozen tests to ensure donations are safe for patients, including HIV, Hepatitis B and C, West Nile and other infectious diseases. Testing takes place at our state-of-the-art testing facility, Creative Testing Solutions.
Am I eligible for automated donation?
Donors must meet the same eligibility requirements as a whole blood donor. In addition, because aspirin affects the coagulation function of platelets, automated donors are asked not to take aspirin or aspirin-like products (Advil, Motrin or Ibuprofen) 48 hours prior to the scheduled appointment.
Please feel free to discuss your eligibility for this program with one of our phlebotomists at any time before, during or after your whole blood donation.
Do I have enough blood in my body to donate?
Yes. The body contains 10 to 12 pints of blood. Your whole blood donation is approximately 1 pint.
My OneBlood Journey
What is My OneBlood Journey?
My OneBlood Journey is a program that will notify donors when their donation is on its way to a hospital, and will even let the donor know which hospital their donation is going to.
How can donors participate in My OneBlood Journey program?
To participate in My OneBlood Journey, donors will need to opt in by providing an email address and opting into email communications.
Why did I not receive a My OneBlood Journey message after my last donation?
We strive to send a message every time, but there are circumstances where your donation could have shipped to a hospital outside of our service area. This could be because:
- Your unit was a perfect match for a patient at a hospital outside of OneBlood’s service area.
- OneBlood assists other blood centers around the country who have experienced an unforeseen event, such as a mass tragedy or natural disaster.
- OneBlood will also assist other blood centers who may be experiencing a blood shortage. After our local needs are met, if OneBlood is able to assist we send blood to where it is needed to help patients.
Technology issues, although minimal, could happen. Issues with email or telephone providers can potentially block communications or have them end up in different mailboxes or spam.”
I donated in my hometown and I was notified that my donation went to a hospital in a different city or state. Why was it not sent to a nearby local hospital?
Your donation may have been sent to a particular hospital because it was a perfect match for a specific patient.
OneBlood provides blood to more than 250 hospitals throughout the Southeast. Depending on availability of the blood supply, donations made with OneBlood can be sent to hospitals anywhere within the OneBlood service area.
What is Message My Donor?
Message My Donor is a groundbreaking program that enables blood recipients to send a thank you message directly to the OneBlood donor(s) who helped save their life.
How does Message My Donor work?
Blood products will arrive at hospitals with Message My Donor tags attached to each unit. The blood unit number will be printed on the Message My Donor tag.
The patient or a family member simply takes the tag off the bag and can take it home with them.
At their convenience, the patient or family member can visit the Message My Donor website, enter the blood donor number and type in a message to their donor(s)
Will I get a Message My Donor Message Each time I donate?
No. Not every donor will receive a message each time they donate. The program is optional for patients so not every patient will send a message.
Can the blood donor send a message back to the patient who sent them a message?
No. Due to the anonymous nature of Message My Donor, the blood donor receiving the message can not send a message back to the patient.
How is the patient’s information protected in your Message My Donor program?
Message My Donor does not require any personal information from the patient in order to receive and transfer their message to the donor. Before a Message My Donor submission can be sent to the donor, designated OneBlood team members will review each message to ensure the message remains anonymous and does not contain information that could identify any of the involved parties
Will Message My Donor reveal the donor’s identity?
No. A submission of a message through the Message My Donor website will not reveal any information that would identify the donor to the patient.
Will Message My Donor reveal the patient’s identity?
No. A submission of a message through the Message My Donor website does not require or ask for any information that would identify the patient, their treatment or the hospital they received the blood product(s) from.
Rewards & Challenges
I did not get my blood donor rewards from the blood drive.
Due to the overwhelming response for particular promotions, sometimes we do run out of vouchers or gift cards. In the event that this happens, we take note of how many donors did not receive their rewards and order additional vouchers to have them sent out to the donor’s address on file. It usually takes 3-4 weeks for donors to receive their gift cards/rewards vouchers if they did not receive it on the bloodmobile.
I never received my email when I redeemed my eGift card in my portal.
Please check your spam/junk folder for the email. If you did not receive your email in either your inbox or spam, please reach out to a Customer Service Representative at 1-888-936-6283 for further assistance.
I never received the email for my Milestone reward.
Congratulations on reaching your new achievement! Upon reaching your milestone it may take a few days for our milestone program to recognize the achievement made. Your milestone reward will automatically be mailed to you once you hit your milestone. There is nothing you need to do in order to receive your milestone package.
I never received an email or lost my email for my gift card.
If you have a remaining balance on your gift card but have misplaced your email or never received the email, our Customer Service Representatives can assist you with obtaining your gift card
I did not get my eGift Card.
To redeem your eGift card rewards, just sign in to your donor portal. Please note, it may take up to 2 days after your donation for your rewards to show in your donor portal.
How do I redeem my eGift Card?
To redeem your eGift card reward, just sign in to your donor portal. Click on “Redeem Rewards” and follow the promts to select and redeem you eGift card(s)
My rewards expired.
Upon receiving your eGift Card, you have 180 days to make your gift card selection. If you have reached the expiration date, please reach out to a Customer Service Representative at 1-888-936-6283 for further assistance. The expiration dates for all of the eGift cards you have earned are your donor portal. To prevent an eGift Card from expiring, we recommend that you redeem your gift card 24-48 hours after your donation. Once your eGift Card has been claimed, the gift card does not have an expiration date..
I do not have an email and would like my eGift card mailed.
We currently do not have the option to have the eGift card mailed, however, our representatives would be happy to assist with the gift card redemption and have your reward selection mailed. Please reach out to a Customer Service Representative at 1-888-936-6283 for further assistance, or use our ‘Chat us with’ function.
What is the Milestone Recognition Program?
Our milestone reward program recognizes donors for their lifetime commitment to donating blood. When you have reached a new gallon milestone, one of our staff will supply you with a Milestone Window Cling that will proudly display your recent gallon achievement. For every 5 gallons that you reach, you will receive a special donor recognition package in the mail.
How does the Whole Blood Challenge work?
Your Whole Blood Challenge is unique to you based on when you donate and become eligible. Your reward challenge timeframe is available within your donor portal as well as the reward amount you can earn. You do not need to contact us to be entered into the program. By making your first whole blood donation, you will be automatically entered.
How/when do I receive my Whole Blood Challenge eGift Card?
Post achievement of your current challenge (as announced in your donor portal), you will receive your secure eGift Card reward in your donor portal 2 days after you reached the current challenge labeled in your portal. You will need to sign in or create a donor portal account to view your eGift card rewards.
I donated blood on a mobile drive or donor center that did not have my gallon window cling.
Congratulations on reaching a new milestone! Please reach out to a Customer Service Representative at 1-888-936-6283 and we will mail you a window cling for your gallon level.
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