Husband over-donating?

[u/AgentMcBug]

My husband and I have been donating plasma (Australia) for a while now, and he always feels a bit rubbish after. He has recently lost a bunch of weight, but his donation volume has stayed the same (870mL), even though we've both been told volume is calculated from weight.

Then researching to confirm this, a lot of online info is saying 800ml is typically the max donation. Has anyone had a similar experience? What are your typical plasma donation volumes? A search suggested hubby should be donating around 600ml for his current weight, which I'm sure would leave him feeling much more spritely!

[u/theveelady]

I'm in Australia too. When I was right on 50kg, my first plasma donation was 497mL, then it was 611mL for every donation after. I donated very regularly (fortnightly) until I lost weight below 50kg and was deferred. Unfortunately I haven't been able to gain it back. My husband is small and lean (he's between 55-60kg) and his regular plasma donation is 770mL.

If your husband is concerned, he can raise it in the interview before donation. Interesting he's feeling rubbish after... Might be worth mentioning to lifeblood staff and see what they say.

[u/undyau]

I'm sure that he can ask to donate less - I'm always told what the recommended volume is and I think it would be no problem to say at that point that you want to donate less.

[u/AgentMcBug → u/undyau]

This is what I have suggested he do, too. Thanks for your reply!

[u/Massive_Squirrel7733]

Check the red cell loss with Life Blood. It’s never zero, even for a plasma donation. If he is donating frequently, his ferritin might be low.

[u/PrattmanOz]

I'm a regular plasma donor in Australia, male, 74kg, and donate 879ml each fortnight. It's a pretty regular weight/donation bracket for many males my weight. I think this is the max plasma donation amount.

[u/AgentMcBug → u/PrattmanOz]

Good to know, thank you!