I, too, was typed many years ago, but was never matched as a donor. Most matches are familial, but what a wonderful thing if you were able to save a life by donating. The typing is simple: they just take a little more blood while doing a whole blood donation and send it off for testing. That's it -you're in the system and will never be called on unless there is a potential match. Yes, there are age and health restrictions, but the center will carefully review those with you; the criteria may be adjusted from time to time, and what was true years ago may not be true now. I lived in a state where Red Cross was the sole blood services coordinator and you never paid for anything, so can't speak to the process here in Florida. Just imagine if everyone who was healthy would give blood, how many lives we could impact.
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