You can donate blood at various Australian Red Cross Lifeblood locations (including blood donor centres or mobile units).ĭonating blood only takes around 10 minutes, but you should allow at least an hour for the whole process (which includes a personal interview, recovery time and free refreshments).
Similar precautionary measures apply to donors in New Zealand, Canada and the USA. This condition cannot yet be tested for and may remain dormant for a very long time. This is due to the possibility that they may have vCJD (variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease), a human form of BSE or ‘mad cow disease’. People who spent 6 months or more in the UK between 19 are currently unable to donate. Blood donation and mad cow disease (vCJD) To find out if your medication rules you in or out, call Lifeblood on 13 14 95. Some medications may affect your ability to donate blood. Meet guidelines designed to protect both the donor and the people who will receive the blood.Additional screening measures are in place due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.Have normal temperature and blood pressure.Be aged between 18 and 75 years (other rules may apply if you are a current donor).Be healthy and not suffering from a cold, flu or other illness at the time of donation.The body replaces this volume within 24 to 48 hours, and replenishes red blood cells in 10 to 12 weeks. This is about 8% of the average adult’s blood volume. The procedure is safe and relatively painless.ĭuring a regular donation, you will give around 470ml of whole blood. Healthy adults (18-75 years) who meet donation eligibility criteria can donate blood. O negative blood can be given to anybody if necessary, but it is always preferable to match the exact blood group to prevent dangerous reactions. Blood groupsĮach type is either Rh-positive or Rh-negative. Medical researchers also need donated blood in order to develop and test new treatments for many medical conditions – such as blood clots, heart attack, stroke and cancer. For example, 34% of donated red blood cells are used to help treat people with cancer and blood diseases. Most of this is used to help people with medical conditions that require blood or blood products regularly. Australian Red Cross Lifeblood collects around 1.5 million blood donations each year.