Talking with U of M

Talking blood donation with U of M

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Someone in the United States needs a blood transfusion about every two seconds. Blood donations play a critical role in maintaining the health of our communities, particularly in the winter when the blood supply tends to be at its lowest. 

Claudia Cohn, a professor and director of the University of Minnesota Blood Bank Laboratory in the Medical School, discusses why donating blood is more important than ever.

Q: Why are there fewer blood donations during the winter?

Cohn: The blood supply is typically lower during winter months since blood donations often decrease because of the holidays, travel schedules, inclement weather and illness. But the need for blood still exists — victims of car accidents still arrive in emergency departments and cancer patients still require chemotherapy, both of which use life-saving blood transfusions.

Q: Who can donate blood? 

Cohn: Healthy individuals over 16 can donate in most states (some states require donors to be 17), and there is no upper age limit. The FDA sets guidelines based on the risk of transmitting bloodborne diseases. In 2023, the FDA reversed its long-held ban on gay and bisexual men donating blood due to the perceived risk of HIV transmission. After a major study, the FDA concluded that individual risk factors better predict blood safety. New guidelines evaluate all potential donors, regardless of gender or sexuality, with the same criteria. The new assessment includes an individual health history questionnaire that evaluates past and current behavior risks. 

Q: Does getting vaccinations impact someone’s ability to donate blood?

Cohn: There are some live attenuated vaccines — which include a weakened form of viruses or bacteria — that require a two- or four-week deferral. For example, the measles or mumps vaccine requires a two-week deferral and the rubella vaccine requires a four-week deferral. The FDA does not require a deferral on blood donations after a COVID-19 vaccine, however, some blood centers might implement a short-term (less than two week) deferral after someone has been vaccinated, as some people feel mildly ill after their shot. You should always defer blood donation if you are not feeling well.

Q: What impact do people make through donating blood?

Cohn: That’s easy to answer: they save a life! The Red Cross estimates that a blood transfusion occurs every two seconds in the U.S. While some transfusions are not used in a life or death emergency, they are still needed to sustain life. Cancer patients often lose the ability to produce red blood cells or platelets during chemotherapy, so they absolutely need blood donors to keep them alive through their treatment. And any motor vehicle accident or trauma victim who comes to the emergency room bleeding will need a transfusion. Blood donation is essential.

Q: How is your work advancing the field of blood donation? 

Cohn: The Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies (AABB), where I am the chief medical officer, works with blood centers, hospitals and the wider community to advance public knowledge about the need for blood donations. This work ranges from educational webinars to public service announcements when the blood supply is low. In my role at the AABB, I have additionally worked with the media to get the word out about the need for more blood. The U of M and M Health Fairview regularly host blood drives, and you can always find upcoming blood drives through the American Red Cross. Keep an eye out and consider donating if you’re able. 

Claudia Cohn is a professor of laboratory medicine and pathology in the University of Minnesota Medical School. She is the director of the University of Minnesota Blood Bank Laboratory and leads the Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies as the chief medical officer. Dr. Cohn conducts research in the field of transfusion medicine and focuses her efforts on two areas: patient blood management and platelet storage and utilization.

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“Talking...with U of M” is a resource whereby University of Minnesota faculty answer questions on current and other topics of general interest. Feel free to republish this content. If you would like to schedule an interview with the faculty member or have topics you’d like the University of Minnesota to explore for future “Talking...with U of M,” please contact University of Minnesota Public Relations at [email protected]

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The University of Minnesota Medical School is at the forefront of learning and discovery, transforming medical care and educating the next generation of physicians. Our graduates and faculty produce high-impact biomedical research and advance the practice of medicine. We acknowledge that the U of M Medical School is located on traditional, ancestral and contemporary lands of the Dakota and the Ojibwe, and scores of other Indigenous people, and we affirm our commitment to tribal communities and their sovereignty as we seek to improve and strengthen our relations with tribal nations. Learn more at med.umn.edu.

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