Frequently asked questions
Answers to what is asked most often before a first donation. The facts are from the blood transfusion services' donor guides and from the Labour Law.
Who can give blood?
Anyone healthy between 18 and 65 who weighs more than 50 kg. Before you go, check on the app's Can I donate? screen; the doctor at the drive decides, after an examination and a haemoglobin test.
Does it hurt?
You feel the needle going in, and that is all. Giving the blood itself takes five to ten minutes.
How long does the whole visit take?
About half an hour: the questionnaire, the haemoglobin test, the doctor, the donation and a meal after it.
How much blood is taken, and how fast does it come back?
Eight to ten per cent of the blood in the body, part of a reserve it does not need for everyday life. The plasma comes back within two days, the red blood cells in about four weeks and the iron in about two months. That is why men wait 12 weeks before the next donation and women 16.
Can I catch anything by giving blood?
No. The needle and the bag are sterile and used only once.
Do I need to know my blood group?
No. It is found from the blood you give.
What should I bring?
An identity document with your photo and your personal identification number, such as your identity card. Foreign nationals living in Serbia for more than six months also show their residence document.
Do I get time off work?
Yes. An employee has the right to two consecutive days of paid leave for every blood donation, the day of the donation included (Labour Law, Article 77).
What if I feel faint?
It rarely happens. Tell the staff, sit or lie down until it passes, then get up slowly. It helps to come rested, after a light meal, and to avoid rushing, cigarettes and alcohol that day.