Can I Donate Blood?

Basic guidance

Who can be a blood donor?

• You must be in good health.
• You should be between 17 and 60 years old.
• You should weigh more than 110 pounds.
• Male and female donors are equally welcome.

Before you donate

Have a good night’s rest, eat a meal 1–3 hours before donating, drink at least three glasses of water within the three hours before donating, and wear loose-fitting clothing, especially on the upper body.

How NBTS confirms eligibility

NBTS staff will ask about your health, travel and medication. They will also ask questions related to hepatitis, HIV and other blood-borne infections, take a small blood sample to check for anaemia and identify your blood type, and check your blood pressure and pulse.

How long should I allow?

Please reserve about 45 minutes to 1 hour. The actual bleeding process is usually about 4–10 minutes, with the remaining time used for registration, screening, processing and rest after donation.

After donating

Drink plenty of fluids and take the rest of the day easy. Most donors do not feel different after donating and can return to their usual duties. Your body naturally replaces the blood that you donated.