Updated at: 10-05-2022 - By: Sienna Lewis

For plasma donation, do you want to know how to raise hematocrit levels? You’ve come to the correct place, then. It’s simple to increase your hematocrit now that you’re eating a lot of iron-rich food.

You may be wondering where you can get this nutrient. Lean red meat, seafood, and chicken are all good sources of iron, so make sure to incorporate them in your diet. Those who are vegetarian or vegan can still get the same amount of iron with our vegetarian or vegan alternative diet. You’ll need to eat lentils, quinoa, beans, and tofu as part of your diet.

If you’re interested in learning more, keep reading to find out more!

One of the most frustrating things about it is that it’s so common. Your hematocrit levels prevent you from donating today, and you’re told as much by the person conducting your donor screening.

WHAT?!?

You may be wondering, “What is my hematocrit level?” “And why am I unable to donate?”

One of the most common reasons our donors are unable to donate blood is due to a low hematocrit. However, even if your hematocrit level momentarily prevents you from being an eligible blood donor, you should still give it a second thought! Increasing your hematocrit level can be as simple as making dietary changes, which in many situations is all it takes.

First things first: what is a hematocrit?

Hematocrit is the percentage of red blood cells in your blood divided by the total volume of the blood. That annoying little finger prick that everyone despises is how we quantify it.

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A hematocrit level of 39 percent to 60 percent is considered suitable for blood donation in men. For women, that percentage ranges from 38% to 60%.

Why does a low hematocrit level mean you can’t donate today?

In a nutshell, it’s there for your own protection. We could put you at danger of anemia if we drew blood after determining your hematocrit level was low.

Blood donations take red blood cells and their iron stores from your body, so we have a responsibility to ensure that you have enough red blood cells in your system to maintain your health. In the event that we didn’t, you can end up feeling unwell after giving blood. You could be putting your health at risk, or worse.

So, how can you raise your hematocrit level anyway?

Blood regeneration is aided by a diet high in iron. Consider including more of the foods on the following list in your daily diet.

Make sure you’re getting enough Vitamin C to help your body absorb all this extra iron! Coffee and tea should be avoided during and after meals, as caffeine has been shown to reduce iron absorption.

All About Plasma Donation

In order for our blood to have a liquid consistency, we need plasma in it. It has a yellowish hue that is almost translucent. It is primarily composed of water and a small amount of protein. In addition, salts, enzymes, antibodies, and proteins such as albumin and fibrinogen are all present in it.

So, what does it do? The plasma in our bodies performs a variety of vital activities. It aids in the maintenance of a healthy blood pressure level. And it aids in the delivery of all of our body’s critical nutrients, proteins, minerals, and hormones. Plasma transports a variety of substances to our cells, including:

  • hormones for growth
  • sodium
  • potassium
  • blood clotting factors

What factors do you believe contribute to plasma loss? If we’re talking about a loss of plasma, then that’s what we’re dealing with. Then blood loss is inevitable. Because, after all, plasma is the blood’s liquid component. External traumas and internal bleeding are the primary causes of plasma loss nowadays.

#1. Becoming a donor

Now that you know if you can donate blood, head over to your local blood donation center and be checked out. As a general rule, you must meet the following criteria in order to donate plasma:

  • At the very least, you should be at least 18 years of age.
  • Your weight should not fall below 100 pounds.
  • When donating blood, you must pass a medical examination in order to do so.
  • You should be able to get through the in-depth medical history check with flying colors.
  • You should have a negative HIV and hepatitis B test results.
  • Having the recommended protein intake of fifty to eighty grams would be beneficial.

#2. The process

In order to donate blood, plasmapheresis is employed. Blood is collected from the donor’s arm during this procedure. After that, the plasma-separating machine is used to separate the plasma from the cells in the blood. Finally, the plasma is extracted, and the leftover cells are reintroduced to the donor mixed with water. Plasma can also be acquired by whole blood donation. Recovered plasma donation is another name for this procedure. Plasma is extracted from whole blood donated by the donor.

#3. Its significance

Patients with severe liver disease or clotting factor deficits may benefit from plasma therapy, as well as those who have been traumatized, shocked, or burned. By increasing a person’s blood volume, plasma aids in the prevention of cardiac arrest and clots. Medical diseases like bleeding disorders and immunological deficiencies can be treated using plasma treatments, which are made by pharmaceutical businesses as well.

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Ways To Raise Hematocrit Levels For Plasma Donation

To begin with, we need to know what hematocrit levels are The number of red blood cells in your blood, or hematocrit, is what we’re talking about here. The hematocrit level is affected by changes in plasma volume. Because of this, donors must have a hematocrit level of at least 38% in order to donate safely. Yes! The hematocrit levels are therefore important in plasma donation.

Right here in this paragraph, we will answer your question: how to raise hematocrit levels for plasma donation? By consuming a diet high in iron, you can easily achieve this goal. As a result, iron can help raise your hemoglobin levels and improve your overall health. But then, be careful, my friends. Anemia or iron shortage can cause low hemoglobin levels. You may enhance your iron levels and maintain a healthy blood balance by consuming iron-rich meals. For further information, look into the roles played by hemoglobin and iron.

To help you raise your hematocrit levels, we’ll now discuss what you should eat to do so. Okay, a diet rich in heme iron (an iron found only in meat) and protein is recommended.

Foods rich in heme iron include beef, pork, and poultry.

  • Red meat that is low in fat
  • Seafood
  • Chicken

Here’s how to raise your iron levels for blood donation. If you’re a vegan or vegetarian, these are some non-heme iron-rich foods:

  • Tofu
  • Beans
  • Quinoa
  • Lentils

When donating plasma, there are a few factors to keep in mind:

  • If you’ve recently had surgery, be sure to let the donation center know.
  • If you’ve had a piercing or tattoo within the last year, let the donation center know.
  • Please tell the donation center if you are currently taking any medicine before donating your time or money.

Reading about what to eat before and after blood donation is highly recommended.

FAQs

What Is Normal Hematocrit?

The normal hematocrit level varies with age and ethnicity.. Adult male testosterone levels typically range between 41 and 50 percent. The usual range for women is significantly lower: 36% to 44%. When a person’s hemoglobin concentration falls below the normal range, it means they have anemia, which is a lack of red blood cells. Polycythemia or erythrocytosis may be indicated by a hematocrit level that is higher than usual, indicating an overabundance of red blood cells.

Why Should You Test Hematocrit Levels?

If you display signs of anemia, polycythemia, or erythrocytosis, your doctor may order a hematocrit test. In addition to fatigue and shortness of breath, anemia can cause dizziness and lightheadedness. As a side effect of polycythemia there are symptoms such as weariness, itching and headaches. Headaches, dizziness, shortness of breath, and nosebleeds are all symptoms of erythrocytosis, which is an autoimmune disorder.

What Is the Difference Between Hematocrit and Hemoglobin

However, both hematocrit and hemoglobin measures are blood tests, but they don’t measure the same thing.

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Hematocrit

  • A person’s hemoglobin, or red blood cell count, is known as the hemoglobin equivalence.
  • Men’s hematocrit levels typically range between 41% and 50%.
  • Women’s normal levels range from 36 to 48 percent.

Hemoglobin

  • Red blood cells carry oxygen and carbon dioxide throughout your body thanks to hemoglobin.
  • For men, the normal range of hemoglobin is between 13.5 and 17.5 g/dL.
  • Between 12.0 and 15.5 g/dL is considered normal for females.

Before each donation, the blood’s hemoglobin level is examined. Having a sufficient number of red blood cells is essential for blood donation, hence this precaution is taken. Donors must have hemoglobin levels of at least 12.5 g/dL but no more than 20 g/dL. Donors who prefer to donate just red blood cells, or Power Red, must meet additional standards.

Why Donations Are So Important

There is a need for blood transfusions every two seconds, according to recent studies. Trauma patients, cancer patients, persons with long-term illnesses, and others all benefit from blood donations.

It’s A Wrap

It is our sincere hope that you have found the answer to the question of how to raise hematocrit levels for plasma donation by reading this article. If you have any questions about how plasma donation works, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We sincerely hope you enjoyed reading it! Learn more about apheresis blood donation by checking out this article.