Blood Donation Calculator

Determines the total blood amount based on Nadler formula and computes the next recommended donation date.

In the text below the form you can find more information about blood donation and the Nadler method.


The blood donation calculator uses the Nadler equation to determine total blood (from weight, height and gender).

The tool also provides the next recommended blood donation time based on the latest donation.


The Nadler formula is gender specific:

For Men = 0.3669 x Height in m3 + 0.03219 x Weight in kg + 0.6041

For Women = 0.3561 x Height in m3 + 0.03308 x Weight in kg + 0.1833

These formulas can be applied to adults and children that weight more than 35 kg (77.16 lbs).

Men, on average, have 4.5 – 6 quarts of blood (5.11 – 6.81 L) while women have 3.5 – 4 quarts (3.97 – 4.54 L).


1

Total blood volume:

Gender:*
Weight:*
Height:*
2

Blood donation time:

Latest donation:*
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Steps on how to print your input & results:

1. Fill in the calculator/tool with your values and/or your answer choices and press Calculate.

2. Then you can click on the Print button to open a PDF in a separate window with the inputs and results. You can further save the PDF or print it.

Please note that once you have closed the PDF you need to click on the Calculate button before you try opening it again, otherwise the input and/or results may not appear in the pdf.


 

Variables and formula

The blood donation calculator estimates the total amount of blood based on the subject’s gender, weight and height, via the Nadler method.

The two measurements can be input in either Metric or English units. If the last donation date is input, the tool will retrieve the earliest new donation date (based on the 12 and 16 week rule) and will display a countdown to that date.

The Nadler formula is gender specific and takes account of height and weight:

For Men = 0.3669 x Height in m3 + 0.03219 x Weight in kg + 0.6041

For Women = 0.3561 x Height in m3 + 0.03308 x Weight in kg + 0.1833

The above calculator automatically converts lbs to kg and ft, in to m to be used in the above equation. However, the Nadler formula for weight in lbs and height in inches would be:

For Men = 0.006012 x Height in inches3 + 14.6 x Weight in lbs + 604

For Women = 0.005835 x Height in inches3 + 15 x Weight in lbs + 183

These formulas can be applied to adults and children that weight more than 35 kg (77.16 lbs).

Men, on average, have 4.5- 6 quarts of blood (5.11 – 6.81 L) while women have 3.5- 4 quarts (3.97 – 4.54 L).

 

Blood donation guidelines

There are three main conditions for being accepted to donate blood:

■ Good general health;

■ Age between 17 and 65;

■ Weight of at least 50 kg (110.2 lbs).

The amount of blood that is retrieved is up to 500 mL (just under a pint). In whole blood donations all components of blood are used whilst in plasmapheresis only plasma is used.

Two subsequent donations have to be 12 weeks (for men) and 16 weeks (for women) apart, an interval necessary for the body to replenish fluids and avoid development of iron deficiency.

 

References

1. Karger AG. AABB Blood Bank Operations Manual: Complete Manual with 'Standards Blood Banks and Transfusion Services' American Association Of Blood Banks; 1999.

2. Blood Donor Selection: Guidelines on Assessing Donor Suitability for Blood Donation. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2012.

3. Williams PW, Gray, H. Gray's anatomy (37th ed.) New York: C. Livingstone; 1989.


Specialty: Hematology

System: Cardiovascular

Objective: Determination

Type: Calculator

No. Of Variables: 4

Article By: Denise Nedea

Published On: June 12, 2017 · 08:15 AM

Last Checked: June 12, 2017

Next Review: June 12, 2023