What to Do If You Can't Donate Blood Due to Low Hemoglobin Levels

Key TakeawaysBoth the United States and Canada are experiencing dire blood shortages and calling for more blood donors.However, if your hemoglobin levels are too low, you might be turned away from your appointment.Hemoglobin levels can usually restore to a normal range over time, but you can also focus on eating an iron-rich diet or taking supplements if needed.

Key Takeaways

Both the United States and Canada are experiencing dire blood shortages and calling for more blood donors.However, if your hemoglobin levels are too low, you might be turned away from your appointment.Hemoglobin levels can usually restore to a normal range over time, but you can also focus on eating an iron-rich diet or taking supplements if needed.

Earlier this year, the American Red Cross said it was facing the worst blood shortage in over a decade, calling it “a national blood crisis.” Canadian Blood Services issueda similar statementin August, saying the number of people donating had hit a 10-year-low.

I finally made an appointment at the end of August, filling out all the necessary documents to ensure I was eligible. I arrived at my appointment days later and spent roughly an hour going through the registration process before the worker pricked my finger, tested my blood, and informed me that myhemoglobin levelswere simply too low to donate.

Though she assured me that I could try again in three months, I left confused and disappointed about my failed attempt at giving back.

Why Hemoglobin Levels MatterHemoglobin contains iron, which is necessary to generate new red blood cells. Blood centers have a minimum hemoglobin level to ensure that your hemoglobin and iron won’t drop to a dangerously low level after donating blood.A deficiency in iron may make you feel tired or lead toanemia, while extremely low iron could cause damage to organs.

Why Hemoglobin Levels Matter

Hemoglobin contains iron, which is necessary to generate new red blood cells. Blood centers have a minimum hemoglobin level to ensure that your hemoglobin and iron won’t drop to a dangerously low level after donating blood.A deficiency in iron may make you feel tired or lead toanemia, while extremely low iron could cause damage to organs.

Reasons for Low Hemoglobin Levels

Liudmila Schafer, MD, FACP, a board-certified and award-winning medical oncologist, said menstruation causes a loss of iron, which is an important component of hemoglobin. Heavy menstruation can also lead to “chronic” blood loss, she said, causing the number of red blood cells to be lower than normal. A poor diet oranemiacan also lead tolow iron.

Other demographical factors might also come into play, she said, such as race and ethnicity. For example, research shows that the average hemoglobin level is naturally lower in Asian people and Black people compared to that in White people.

You could also have low hemoglobin levels if you donate blood too frequently, Schafer added. You should always wait at least three months between donations, because it takes the body an average of 90 days for red blood cells to regenerate.

If you’re still unsure why you have low hemoglobin levels, you can discuss with your healthcare provider about checking for ulcers, bleeding, thyroid function, or hemorrhoids.

Hemoglobin Levels for Blood Donations

How to Raise Your Hemoglobin Levels

Since vitamin C helps the body absorb iron, you can also consider eating more foods that are rich in vitamin C, such as tomatoes, oranges, and bell peppers.

If necessary, your healthcare provider might be able to prescribeiron supplements. According to the American Red Cross, teenagers and frequent blood donors may benefit from “an iron supplement with 18–38 mg of elemental iron or a multivitamin with 18 mg of iron for at least 60 days after donating whole blood or 120 days after a power red donation.”

“Because we are facing such a shortage, we need more people to donate blood, so it’s more important than ever to understand your Hb levels and donate if you can,” Schafer said.

What This Means For YouIf you try to donate blood but get turned away due to low hemoglobin levels, don’t be alarmed. Most of the time, your levels will restore gradually. To help with this process, focus on eating an iron-rich diet, and take supplements if your doctor says it’s necessary. You can try donating again in three months.

What This Means For You

If you try to donate blood but get turned away due to low hemoglobin levels, don’t be alarmed. Most of the time, your levels will restore gradually. To help with this process, focus on eating an iron-rich diet, and take supplements if your doctor says it’s necessary. You can try donating again in three months.

3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Blood Donor Counselling: Implementation Guidelines. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2014. Annex 1, Haemoglobin and iron: information for blood donors.Lim E, Miyamura J, Chen JJ.Racial/ethnic-specific reference intervals for common laboratory tests: a comparison among Asians, Blacks, Hispanics, and White.Hawaii J Med Public Health. 2015;74(9):302-310.American Red Cross.What donors should know about iron and blood donation.

3 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Blood Donor Counselling: Implementation Guidelines. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2014. Annex 1, Haemoglobin and iron: information for blood donors.Lim E, Miyamura J, Chen JJ.Racial/ethnic-specific reference intervals for common laboratory tests: a comparison among Asians, Blacks, Hispanics, and White.Hawaii J Med Public Health. 2015;74(9):302-310.American Red Cross.What donors should know about iron and blood donation.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Blood Donor Counselling: Implementation Guidelines. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2014. Annex 1, Haemoglobin and iron: information for blood donors.Lim E, Miyamura J, Chen JJ.Racial/ethnic-specific reference intervals for common laboratory tests: a comparison among Asians, Blacks, Hispanics, and White.Hawaii J Med Public Health. 2015;74(9):302-310.American Red Cross.What donors should know about iron and blood donation.

Blood Donor Counselling: Implementation Guidelines. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2014. Annex 1, Haemoglobin and iron: information for blood donors.

Lim E, Miyamura J, Chen JJ.Racial/ethnic-specific reference intervals for common laboratory tests: a comparison among Asians, Blacks, Hispanics, and White.Hawaii J Med Public Health. 2015;74(9):302-310.

American Red Cross.What donors should know about iron and blood donation.

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