Who Can Donate

Donating blood is a responsible, voluntary, and unpaid act.

Donors who

  • Are in good general health
  • Are at least 18 years old and no more than 65. After the age of 60, donors require the approval of a transfusion medicine physician
  • Weight at least 50 kg
  • Are not be at risk of transmitting blood-borne diseases
  • Have a hemoglobin or hematocrit level of
    • 13.5-18 g/dl (0.40%) for a man
    • 12.5-16 g/dl (0.38%) for a woman
  • Have a systolic blood pressure of 100-140 mmHg and a diastolic blood pressure of 60-90 mmHg
  • Have a pulse rate of 60-100 bpm (beats per minute)
  • Have a temperature below 37.6°C
  • Have a platelet count above 150x109/L.

Who Can't Donate


People who

  • Have ever taken drugs
  • Have a partner who takes drugs
  • Are HIV positive
  • Are a male who had sexual contacts with another male
  • Have a partner who is HIV positive
  • Have more than one sexual partner
  • Think their partner has risky sex

These instructions must be strictly respected even when using a condom.

Pre-Donation

Please read the preliminary information carefully before you donate

  • You will be asked to show your ID card and to complete a questionnaire.
  • We will ask you if you had any suspicious activities that involves the risk of HIV or hepatitis virus transmission
  • We will measure your blood pressure, temperature and pulse. And we will draw a small blood sample to make sure you are not anemic
  • You will then be asked to sign the questionnaire and an informed consent to confirm that you have read and understood the content of this leaflet and that you have answered all questions truthfully.
  • Your presence here is voluntary. You may leave the transfusion center at any time prior to phlebotomy.
  • Whether you donate or not your information is stored on our database. All necessary measures are taken to protect the security and confidentiality of your personal data.
  • All necessary measures are taken to protect the security and confidentiality of your personal data.

What Happens to your Blood Donation ?

The blood samples collected during the donation are sent to the testing laboratory to determine the donor’s blood type and screen for infections such as hepatitis B and C, syphilis and HIV.

  • If a test returns positive the blood unit is destroyed and the donor is notified.

  • Once tested negative for all infectious diseases, the Blood unit will be separated into different components: Red blood cells, platelets, and plasma.
    These blood products are then transfused to patients according to their needs and diseases.

    • Distribution

    The blood product is released to the patient after the donor-recipient compatibility tests are
    completed and the blood component is documented safe and compatible.

Red blood cells

are used for patients with major bleeding secondary to an accident or surgery and to treat patients with chronic anemia. Red blood cells are kept refrigerated, with maximum permitted storage period of six weeks.

Platelets

are used to treat patients with leukemia and other malignancies. Platelets must be stored between 20°C and 24°C under continuous agitation and have a shelf life of five days.

Plasma

is used to treat severe burn patients, infections and other serious diseases. Stored frozen for one year.

Post-Donation

The amount of blood taken is small compared to your total blood volume. The recovery is usually rapid and you should not feel any fatigue.

  • Rest at the blood bank for 5 to 10 minutes.
  • For the following 12 hours, drink plenty of fluids to replace the fluid that has been lost.
  • Do not smoke for 30 min
  • Do not drive for 30 min
  • Avoid strenuous physical exertion for 6 to 8 hours.

The minimum interval between two whole blood donations is 56 days.

CAUTION AFTER DONATION

If you develop any signs of infection (fever, cold ...) in the two weeks following your donation,
if you forgot to mention something or you want to modify information that you provided during the medical screening, you should inform the blood bank as soon as possible.

The safety of the patient depends on it.