Men can give blood every 12 weeks and women can give blood every 16 weeks.
If you have an existing medical condition or have a question about your eligibility to give blood you should check the health and travel section before you book an appointment.
You think you need a test for HIV/AIDS, HTLV or hepatitis.
Blood is the red coloured fluid flowing continuously in the human body’s circulatory system. On average, a human being has about 5–6 litres of blood flowing in the body. About 7% of the body weight of a healthy individual is accounted for by blood.
Usually, any person within the age group of 18–60 years with a minimum body weight of 45 kg, and having a minimum haemoglobin content of 12 g/dL is eligible to donate. However, all countries have criteria for blood donation in their respective countries.
Blood mainly contains a fluid called plasma which has three types of cells – red blood cells or RBCs, white blood cells or WBCs and platelets.
Nothing special. The donor should eat at regular meal times and drink plenty of fluids.
The procedure is done by skilled, specially trained technicians and takes three to eight minutes. However, from start to finish (filling form, postdonation rest etc.) the entire process should take around 30 minutes.
Whole blood can be stored for up to 35 days, when kept in CPDA anticoagulant solution and refrigerated at 2–4 °C.
Yes. All blood units are tested for HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, malaria and antibodies to syphilis. Only those units of blood are transfused which are free from these infectious markers.