If you're like me & tend to just barely pass the iron test, I've learned something the past few times I've donated:

Make sure your hands are warm when they poke your finger for the iron test!

The last two times I donated, including yesterday, my hands were a bit chilly, and the first time I was tested my Hb level was under the requisite 12.5 (yesterday it was initally 12.1, the last time I donated it was initally 11.9).

In both instances, I warmed my hands up a bit and was re-tested a few minutes later. And both times, my re-tested Hb level came out to 12.9, good to go.

I'm told this has something to do with one's circulation, and that if you don't have good circulation in your hands, more plasma is introduced into the blood sample, diluting it a bit resulting an anomalously low Hb level. Maybe those of you in the medical field can comment more coherently on this.

While he was in the waiting area (I was called in before he was, neener), LeeBob was talking to a woman who was holding a paper cup containing warm water. She has the same issue with cold hands, so she routinely holds a warm cup of water while waiting for her Hb test.

So from now on I'll try to remember to bring a cup of hot herbal tea to enjoy while waiting to be called for the test.