“He is currently in good health.”

Submit the medical history form to volunteers before being able to donate blood. Before each donation, the doctor checks the volunteer’s physical condition, including through a quick complete blood count test to check for deficiencies(such as anaemia, low iron).

Only if there are no contraindications can you sit in an armchair to take your sample. Haemoglobin is the main part of red blood cells; its task is to transport oxygen to every corner of the body, which is why it is important to keep an eye on it.

A low haemoglobin value can be a sign of iron deficiency; your body cannot produce iron. Instead, it is taken through food. It is the “hook” between the cell and oxygen, which travels in the blood system once absorbed by the lungs.

For the correct mechanism function, a round protein called ferritin is crucial to your body. Iron is deposited within this protein. It is not just a “warehouse”; it is also a “manager.” ferritin is, in fact, able to store iron and, if necessary, quickly release it into the body.

If the ferritin value does not fall within the range, it may suggest a haemoglobin deficiency responsible for anaemia. If your haemoglobin is low, you cannot donate blood. The average ferritin values ​​in an adult differ between men and women: women: 20-120 ng/mL; men: 20-200 ng/mL.

How do we recognise an iron deficiency? Several symptoms can be a sign of a deficiency, the most common is constant fatigue. This can be diagnosed with an iron profile test.

Anaemia may also occur if the ferritin does not have enough iron to release for a long period. People diagnose anaemia using an anaemia profile test which consists of a complete blood count test, iron test, ferritin test, and a CRP test.

A balanced diet is key to good health.

Various causes lead to low ferritin levels; the most common, without considering diseases or particular conditions, are due to nutritional deficits.

For this reason, people recommend eating foods such as meat, fish, legumes, fish, molluscs, crustaceans, and dried and fresh fruit. Citrus fruits are very important. Because, thanks to vitamin C, they allow iron absorption. If the iron deficiency is significant, taking supplements (tablets, syrups and drops) is possible.

Even a high level of ferritin (hyperferritinemia) can be an indicator of diseases or inflammatory states for which a medical consultation is always necessary. Help can come from eating a diet low in iron. Also, foods rich in chelating substances that bind to iron, allow it to easily eliminate through the urine.

Once again, therefore, the advice for blood donors is always the same: lead a healthy life and take care of your body.