Canadian Blood Services increases iron guidelines for donors
Posted Oct 25, 2016 11:48:17 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA – Canadian Blood Services is bringing in tougher iron guidelines for its donors.
Female donors will need to wait longer between blood donations and male donors will need to pass a stricter hemoglobin test.
The national agency says the move is meant to promote health and wellness among its donors.
Starting Dec. 10, female donors will need to wait 12 weeks between blood donations instead of the current eight-week period.
And starting March 5, 2017, male donors must have a minimum hemoglobin level of 130 grams per litre, up from 125 grams per litre.
Hemoglobin is a protein found in red blood cells that is necessary for carrying oxygen to the tissues in the body.
