Why should I give blood?

Donating blood helps ensure there are blood products available for people who need them. Many people need regular blood transfusions to help treat their medical conditions. One blood donation can save up to 3 lives. Blood donations may be transfused to help in the treatment of:

• cancer
• anaemia
• blood disorders and diseases affecting the stomach or kidneys
• surgery or trauma

You can choose to donate:

• blood
• plasma (the liquid part of your blood)
• platelets (cell fragments that help with blood clotting)

What is a plasma donation?

When you donate plasma, a special procedure called apheresis is used to separate plasma from your blood. It's similar to giving blood. Just over half of your blood is plasma.

A special machine takes blood from your arm. The machine separates your blood and collects plasma. Your plasma is a yellow colour when it's separated from your red blood cells, which make your blood red.

Plasma can be used in many ways, such as to:

• treat liver disease
• prevent and stop bleeding
• treat major burns

Can I give blood?

To give blood in Australia, you must:

• be aged between 18 and 75 years
• be feeling well
• weigh more than 50kg

There are some things that may affect your eligibility to donate, such as:

• any medicines that you currently take
• your medical history — for example, if your iron is low, you are pregnant or recently pregnant
• your travel history

Australian Red Cross Lifeblood has a full list of eligibility criteria and an eligibility checker to help you work out if you can donate blood.

Can I give blood if I'm sick?

No, you will need to wait until you're feeling well before donating blood.

Even if you only have mild symptoms, like a runny nose, you should stay home to rest and recover. You should be fully recovered for at least one week before donating blood.

If you have a long-term condition, check the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood website for information.

Can I donate blood after a vaccination?

You might have to wait to donate blood or plasma after having a vaccination. The waiting time depends on the type of vaccine you have had. If you are unsure whether your vaccine affects your eligibility to donate blood or plasma, contact your doctor.

There are some reasons why you might not be able to donate blood in Australia. These reasons are to minimise the risk to those who receive the donations. The reasons include:

• recent body art — tattoos and piercings
• injecting drug use
• certain sexual encounters

Giving blood after a tattoo

You can donate plasma straight after getting a tattoo if it was done in a licensed tattoo parlour in Australia. You will need to wait 7 days to give blood or platelets. This includes cosmetic tattoos.

If your tattoo was not done in a licensed parlour in Australia, you must wait 4 months before donating plasma or blood.

Giving blood after a piercing

After having your ears pierced, you can donate plasma straight away. After 24 hours, you can also donate blood and platelets.

After having a body piercing, you can only donate plasma for the next 4 months. After 4 months, you can give blood and platelets too.

Giving blood after injecting drugs

After injecting drugs that weren't prescribed for you by a medical professional, you will need to wait 5 years to donate blood.

Giving blood after a sexual encounter

You will need to wait 3 months before you can donate blood or platelets if you have:

• had oral or anal sex with a male, even if you used a condom
• had oral or anal sex with a male who has or may have had oral or anal sex with another male, even if you used a condom
• been a sex worker or had sex with a sex worker
• had sexual activity with someone who has injected drugs that were not prescribed

You can still donate plasma after these sexual encounters.

You will need to wait 3 months before you can donate blood, platelets or plasma, if you have had sexual activity with someone who has:

• HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)
• hepatitis B
• hepatitis C
• human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) infection

If in the last 12 months you have had sexual activity with a new partner who currently lives or has lived overseas, you may need to wait to donate blood or platelets. This depends on the HIV risk level in the country your partner lives or lived. Call Lifeblood on 13 14 95 to check.

If you have taken pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in the last 12 months, you can donate plasma. You will need to wait 12 months after stopping the medication before giving blood or platelets.

Find out more about these rules.

How often can I donate blood?

You can donate blood every 12 weeks.

You can donate plasma or platelets every 2 weeks.

Where can I donate blood?

You can donate blood through the Australian Red Cross (Lifeblood), which operates blood donor centres and mobile units all around Australia.

Find one near you.

What is the blood donation process?

What do I need to do to prepare to donate blood?

The day before you donate, you need to:

• drink plenty of fluids
• have plenty to eat
• avoid foods that are high in fat or fried
• try to have a good night's sleep

What should I do before I go to the blood donor centre?

On the day of your donation, you should:

• drink at least 750mL of fluids
• have something savoury to eat
• avoid strenuous exercise
• write down medicines that you take to show the staff at the donor centre

You will need to take identification (ID) that shows your:

• full name
• date of birth
• home address
• signature
• photo

Your ID could be your driver's licence, passport or digital donor card in the Lifeblood app.

What happens at the blood donation centre?

When you arrive, the staff will:

• check your ID
• ask you to complete a donor questionnaire (to check that you're eligible to donate blood)
• do a quick finger-prick test to check that your haemoglobin levels are safe (haemoglobin is the molecule in red blood cells that makes them red)
• check your blood pressure

The staff will make sure you feel comfortable and look after you during the process. Your whole appointment takes about an hour. Donating plasma can take a bit longer.

What happens after I've donated blood?

After you have donated blood, it's important to rest for a few minutes before you get up from the chair.

You can then go to the provided refreshment area in the donor centre where you should stay for about 15 minutes. Make sure you have a drink and a snack.

What is my blood screened for?

It's important all blood donations are screened to keep the people who receive donations safe. Your blood will be checked to confirm your blood type and red cell antibodies (RhD factor). If you're donating for the first time, your blood will be screened for human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV).

Your blood is also screened for infectious diseases, including:

• human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• hepatitis B
• hepatitis C
• syphilis

Some donations are also screened for cytomegalovirus (CMV).

Are there any side effects from donating blood?

After donating blood, you may get a small bruise where the needle went into your arm.

You may also have low iron levels, which can sometimes lead to anaemia.

Donating blood in Australia is very safe, and most people feel fine afterwards. However, you may occasionally feel:

• light-headed or dizzy
• nauseous
• sweaty
• weak
• faint

If you feel unwell after donating blood, you can contact Australian Red Cross Lifeblood on 13 14 95 for advice.

Resources and support

You can call Australian Red Cross Lifeblood on 13 14 95 for more information on donating blood. You can visit their website to check your eligibility for donating and find out more about the process.

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.