Donating blood for the first time

Registration and questionnaire

Make sure you are well rested and that you drink plenty of water before you come to donate blood.

The medical questionnaire will be used to assess your current state of health and determine whether you are eligible to donate. It has questions on things like whether you have visited a malaria area, for instance, and whether you are taking any medications and which ones. 
 

Honesty and social responsibility

It is important that you answer all the questions truthfully, because blood can carry viruses and other pathogens. While not dangerous for healthy people, these pathogens can pose a risk for people whose immune systems are weaker. Naturally, all blood transfusion service personnel are bound by medical confidentiality, so you can rest assured that your information will be secure. 

Examination

You will have a face-to-face talk with a medical professional, who will check your questionnaire and discuss any points in need of clarification with you. Your blood pressure and pulse will also be measured. In addition, your finger will be pricked to collect a drop of blood for a quick test to make sure that you have enough haemoglobin in your blood. Haemoglobin is the main constituent of red blood cells, where it is responsible for transporting oxygen to your tissues. You will not be allowed to donate if your haemoglobin count is too low.

Based on all this data, the medical staff will decide whether you can donate. 

Blood Collection

Make yourself comfortable on a recliner for the 10 minutes it takes to collect the necessary amount of blood. Once the area has been thoroughly disinfected, a needle will be insert into your vein; this is practically painless. A total of 450 ml of blood will be drawn from your vein – only sterile, single-use materials are used to rule out the risk of transmission of a disease. A healthy body tolerates the loss of that volume well.

There will always be member of staff nearby while the blood is being drawn, they will make sure that everything is all right with you. Once the blood has been collected, the needle will be removed, the insertion site will be disinfected and covered with a small plaster and a bandage. 

Refreshments and rest period

A small snack and a beverage will be waiting for you after your donation. Don’t pass them by! A short rest of 10 to 15 minutes after the donation will also do you good. It is important that you drink plenty of liquids. This helps your body replace the blood fluid you donated.

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