Today I gave blood. Working in compliance, I have learned that we have made our lives more complicated to avoid risks. As I was laying on the stretcher, waiting for the phlebotomist to stick me with the needle, I thought about all the other times I've given blood and how the process has changed.

I first started giving blood in 1978. . . a simpler time then, before AIDS, or mad cow's disease. The questions were about me. . . was I well enough to give blood. Then they would take my blood pressure, hook me up, take my blood, and remind me with a phone call that it had been 8 weeks, come on down.

Now, you have to read a book, which changes on occassion. But because the FDA believes that when I read the book 8 weeks ago, I won't remember everything I read or that something in my life may have changed and the information in the book will be important to me. So I read the book, knowing that nothing has changed in the book and nothing has changed in my life that would stop me from giving blood.

Then you wait, they call you and bring you back to a private area (another Federal regulation). They ask you your name about 5 times while taking your blood pressure, temperature, pulse, check for anemia, and asking you if you've ever given blood under another name. . . and of course because I gave blood when I was single, the answer is yes.

Then they leave you in the private area to answer about 30 questions on the laptop. And when your done, they come back. If you've answered yes to a question that should have been no, they have to ask you more details. . . for example, I answered that I have been out of the country in the past 3 years. Now they have to ask me if I was out of the country for more than 5 years and where I was. Well, this year, I went to China. Then I have to think about all my other adventures and if they have been within the 3 year period.

After I passed that test, I'm handed a folder with a piece of paper in it. I need to verify that my name, address, DOB, etc are all correct. . . and they are.

Then I wait for the phlebotomist. They ask me several times to verify what is on the form in the folder and to state my name. Once all that has been done, they can begin to assess which arm, sterilize the area, poke me, and say, "squeeze the ball gently every 2-3 seconds." 7 minutes later, the machine beeps. Now they have to get six tubes of blood, mark a bunch of stuff, clean me up, wrap me up and give me discharge instructions.

The entire process can take up to 40 minutes or more (depending on the waiting).

I can understand the reasons for this increased process. So when I give, it becomes my time to sit and reflect about stuff like this. The changes in my life.