Even with (moderately) elevated levels of PFAS, the lifesaving value of your blood greatly exceeds the dangers of PFAS to the recipient. While I agree that there is a sort of “ick” factor in the idea of your PFAS being transferred to a sick or injured person, it’s not really necessary to dispose of your blood. If you’re donating whole blood, you’re only providing 1/10th of their blood volume. Unless your concentration of PFAS is more than 10 times the average, you’re not going to increase their concentration above the average. With plasma, they extract certain proteins and other components, and discard the rest, which includes (most of) the PFAS.
To more directly address your comment: If you’re donating whole blood, you will be asked, anonymously, if there is any reason why they shouldn’t use your blood. The last time I gave whole blood, they had two stickers with barcodes. They told me that one sticker meant that my blood should be used, and the other meant my blood shouldn’t be used. Both stickers were removed from the paperwork, and the applicable one attached to the bag. The on-site staff couldn’t know which one I attached to my donated blood.
So yes, there is a way to mark your whole blood for disposal if you don’t think it should be used. But, again: your blood can save lives, and does not pose a significant risk to the recipient.
Plasma is a little bit different: They won’t draw your plasma unless you indicate it is safe for them to use.
Even with (moderately) elevated levels of PFAS, the lifesaving value of your blood greatly exceeds the dangers of PFAS to the recipient. While I agree that there is a sort of “ick” factor in the idea of your PFAS being transferred to a sick or injured person, it’s not really necessary to dispose of your blood. If you’re donating whole blood, you’re only providing 1/10th of their blood volume. Unless your concentration of PFAS is more than 10 times the average, you’re not going to increase their concentration above the average. With plasma, they extract certain proteins and other components, and discard the rest, which includes (most of) the PFAS.
To more directly address your comment: If you’re donating whole blood, you will be asked, anonymously, if there is any reason why they shouldn’t use your blood. The last time I gave whole blood, they had two stickers with barcodes. They told me that one sticker meant that my blood should be used, and the other meant my blood shouldn’t be used. Both stickers were removed from the paperwork, and the applicable one attached to the bag. The on-site staff couldn’t know which one I attached to my donated blood.
So yes, there is a way to mark your whole blood for disposal if you don’t think it should be used. But, again: your blood can save lives, and does not pose a significant risk to the recipient.
Plasma is a little bit different: They won’t draw your plasma unless you indicate it is safe for them to use.