How to donate blood for donation. Izvestia's instructions

Blood transfusion is one of the most sought—after medical procedures, and on average every third person on Earth needs it. Donors play an important role in providing medical institutions with blood and its components. Thanks to them, doctors save tens of thousands of lives every year. Izvestia tells us who can donate blood and how to do it.

Who can become a blood donor

A citizen of the country or a foreigner legally residing on its territory for at least a year (with a residence permit or temporary residence permit) between the ages of 18 and 60 and weighing at least 50 kg can become a blood donor in Russia. A prerequisite is the absence of medical contraindications, both temporary and permanent. The full list of contraindications can be found here.

There are additional criteria for platelet donation:

• experience in donating blood or its components;
• a sufficient level of platelets in the blood during a preliminary analysis is from 180×10⁹/l;
• the need of a medical institution for components of a certain group and Rhesus affiliation.

How to donate blood — step-by-step instructions

First of all, you need to choose a medical institution that accepts donors and clarify whether an appointment is needed. On the day of blood donation, you must have the originals of your passport and SNILS with you. At the registry office, you will need to fill out a health questionnaire and sign a consent to the processing of personal data, after which the potential donor will be sent for a free medical examination.

Medical examination

The examination includes an express blood test to determine the group, key indicators, Rh and cell factors, and an appointment with a transfusiologist. A specialist will evaluate:

• pulse and blood pressure;
• body temperature;
• body mass index;
• the condition of the skin, mucous membranes, veins, cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

The doctor will also collect an anamnesis to learn about a person's living conditions, past illnesses, surgeries, pregnancy, chronic pathology, allergies and heredity. All this is necessary to eliminate the danger for both the donor and the recipient. Based on the examination, the transfusiologist will make a decision on admission to donation, determine its type and volume. In some cases, examinations by specialized specialists may be prescribed.

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If there are no contraindications, the donor will be sent to the blood collection department. The duration of the procedure depends on its type:

• whole blood — 5-10 minutes;
• plasma — about 40 minutes;
• blood components — from 40 minutes to 2 hours.

After the test, it is recommended to rest for 10-15 minutes. If you feel dizzy, you should contact medical staff or lie on your back with your legs above your head, or sit with your head between your knees.

At the end of the procedure, the donor is given a certificate — it will be needed to receive paid days off at work. The document is issued at the registry office on the day of blood donation. The electronic version can be downloaded in the personal account of the Blood Donation and its Components service on the Public Services portal. It will be displayed in the "Donation Archive" section.

How to prepare for blood donation

Before donating blood, you need to properly prepare for the procedure — follow a rest and nutrition regime, and carefully monitor your well-being. There are no subsidies:

• after working the night shift or on daily duty;
• within 48 hours after drinking alcohol and within 72 hours after taking medications containing analgesics, including aspirin;
• during pregnancy and breastfeeding (within a year after giving birth and three months after the end of lactation);
• during menstruation and for five days after its end;
• with any signs of malaise: runny nose, cough, headache, fever, bruises, wounds, abrasions or skin rashes.

After suffering from the flu, acute respiratory viral infections or sore throat, the donor can return to donating blood no earlier than a month after full recovery.

On the eve of blood donation, it is important to maintain the water balance in the body, drink 1.5–2 liters of liquid (water, tea, juice, etc.). In the evening before the procedure and on the day of donation, you should also avoid certain foods. You can't eat:

• fatty, spicy, fried, and smoked foods;
• dairy products and eggs;
• sausages, lard, fatty sauces;
• nuts, seeds, avocados, bananas, dates, beets;
• confectionery with cream, chocolate.

The consumption of these foods leads to an increase in the level of neutral fats (triglycerides) in the blood. As a result, the plasma becomes cloudy, whitish and thick — this condition is called chylosis. Such blood is unsuitable for laboratory testing for dangerous infections (HIV, hepatitis, syphilis) and must be disposed of.

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Donating blood on an empty stomach is also not recommended — it can lead to dizziness, weakness, and fainting. Therefore, it is worth having breakfast before the procedure. You can eat:

• porridge on water, pasta (without oil);
• boiled or steamed lean meat, fish;
• fresh, boiled or baked vegetables (except beetroot);
• fruits, bread, crackers, dried;
• jam, honey, sweet tea, fruit drinks.

Before the subsidy, you need to get enough sleep and refrain from active physical activity. Two hours before the procedure, you must also stop smoking. You can drive a car on the day of blood donation, and a motorcycle after 2 hours.

Important rules after blood donation:

• do not smoke for an hour;
• do not remove or wet the bandage for 3-4 hours;
• avoid heavy physical activity during the day;
• within two days, eat well and drink at least 2 liters of liquid.;
• abstain from alcohol consumption.

How often can I donate blood

You can donate blood a limited number of times a year. For women — no more than four subsidies, for men — no more than five. It is important to observe the intervals between procedures.:

• There are 60 days between whole blood donation;
• There are 30 days between donation of blood and components (plasma, platelets).;
• There are 14 days between the donation of components (plasma, platelets) (but not more than 26 plasma donations per year);
• There are 60 to 180 days between red blood cell donations (depending on the volume of collection).

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