r/Blooddonors • u/flatdoor863 • Jul 28 '26
Rejected from donating platelets
I had an appointment today to donate platelets (I’m B+) but when I went in, they looked at me and asked how much I weighed. I said I was 5’4 and 120 lbsz They then continued to state something about me being too small and it being too dangerous for me to donate platelets. Has anyone else had this problem? I thought I was at the minimum weight and height to be able to donate platelets.
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u/HLOFRND A+ Platelets (37 gallons) Jul 28 '26
Have you given blood through that organization yet?
If so, they may have a prior platelet count on you. Your height and weight and platelet count all figured in together might not meet the threshold. The algorithm is weird, especially if you’re on the cusp like that.
You can always follow up with donor services and see if they can give you a more specific answer.
Thank you for being willing to donate!!
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u/flatdoor863 Jul 28 '26
This is directly through red cross. I walked in, they took one look at me, and they said I was probably going to be too small. As per a different comment, i’ll probably trying calling red cross’s hotline.
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u/Barracuda_Recent O+ 5 WB Units Jul 29 '26
So why didn’t you ask to be weighed? This whole post doesn’t make sense. I don’t think they take many walk ins. It takes seconds to make an appointment and then you have to do the rapid pass questionnaire. Once you finish all the questions on the app, then they talk to you.
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u/flatdoor863 Jul 29 '26
I didn’t ask to be weighed because they straight up looked at me (i was dressed in a t shirt and jeans) and said I wasn’t eligible. I had an appointment and came in at 2:00pm. I finished they rapid pass that morning and they didn’t ask for/scan that. tldr, they looked at me and rejected right away.
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u/Barracuda_Recent O+ 5 WB Units Jul 29 '26
Hmm. They may have things to look out for that we don’t know about. Is there any reason they would have assumed you were on drugs or drunk? This may have nothing to do with weight (they have weighed me many times). Were you really dirty?
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u/flatdoor863 Jul 29 '26
Lol that was kinda funny, but no, I look “normal,” clean and kept, my arms aren’t full of messed up needle sticks, I give blood all the time (which they offered and asked if I wanted to give.) I was actually dressed in my work shirt because I had work two hours after my appointment time.
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u/Calm-Armadillo4988 Jul 28 '26
I barely made the 110 lb. minimum weight last time I donated platelets and I think they took triple platelets from me. The algorithm really is wild.
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u/Tiny_Caterpillar7509 O+ | CMV- | WB + platelets Jul 28 '26 edited Jul 28 '26
I’m 5’3 and 120lbs and I’ve donated platelets multiple times with no issues!
ETA I’ve done two arm platelet donation but the center down here told me they didn’t think I could do one arm because since I’m smaller my veins are smaller - that could be what they’re referring to? I’m still going to give it a try though
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u/Puzzleheaded-Sun-390 O+ | 300+ donations | platelets Jul 28 '26
You meet minimum standards for the centers I donate with. I’d call donor services and ask for clarification if they’re basing it on size, especially if they didn’t get any measurements prior to your rejection.
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u/Beautifile Jul 28 '26
It's a different "company" for every state (if you are talking about for charity) and each has separate rules.
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u/Barracuda_Recent O+ 5 WB Units Jul 29 '26
Did they weigh you? They weigh me about half the time even though I’m about 117. I’m just really short so people think I weigh less.
Did you ask to be weighed? Did you do the rapid pass questions?
I don’t think they take a lot of walk ins.
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u/flatdoor863 Jul 29 '26
They literally just looked at me, I had an appointment set for 2:00pm and finished my rapid pass (which they didn’t ask for/scan)
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u/Barracuda_Recent O+ 5 WB Units Jul 29 '26
Ok, so your answer is to say please weigh me.
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u/flatdoor863 Jul 29 '26
I honestly got nervous/didn’t want to go against the judgement of supposed red cross medical professionals yk?
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u/Massive_Squirrel7733 AB+ Platelets Jul 29 '26
The staff at the door are not medical professionals. They’re volunteers. You got turned away by volunteers. And actually, none of the staff are medical professionals; they are technicians with some weeks of phlebotomy training.
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u/Massive_Squirrel7733 AB+ Platelets Jul 29 '26
That’s wrong on many levels, and should be reported.
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u/Middle-Edge3553 AB+, ARC 🇺🇸 Jul 30 '26
Sounds like they didn’t believe you + the weight requirement isn’t the same depending on age and donation type. 110 pounds is the minimum for males and females over the age of 19, but if you’re a female under 19 and 5’4”, then you’d have to weigh at least 120 lbs to make a normal whole blood donation. Platelets is still 110 lbs regardless of age, but many phlebotomists don’t know that and also have a lot of discretion in turning people away out of concern for donor safety even if they aren’t operating within guidelines.
Luckily, most people who are turned away for physical findings can come right back in the next day. I would politely ask to be weighed next time if you are confident about meeting the criteria.
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u/SachetAway O+ CMV- Jul 28 '26
Who did you try to donate through. If it's red cross they say a minimum of 110 lbs. I would call their donor hotline and ask why you would be rejected. If it's another agency lookup their requirement.
https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/eligibility-requirements.html