Does giving blood hurt?
No. You feel the needle going in, and that is all: the donation itself, five to ten minutes, does not hurt. The whole visit, from the questionnaire to the meal after it, takes about half an hour.
What you feel
First a drop of blood is taken from a finger to check your haemoglobin. Some donors say that finger prick hurts more than the donation. Then the needle goes into a vein in the crook of your elbow and the blood runs into a bag for five to ten minutes. Everything is sterile and used once, so you cannot catch anything by giving blood.
How much is taken
Usually 450 millilitres, eight to ten percent of the blood in your body, from a reserve you do not need day to day. The plasma is replaced in two days, the red cells in about four weeks, and the iron in them in about eight.
A bruise, or feeling faint
Sometimes a bruise is left where the needle went in. It can look bad but is harmless and goes away on its own within days. A few donors feel faint afterwards: 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.
How long the visit takes
The questionnaire, registration, the haemoglobin check, the doctor's check-up, the donation and the meal after it take about half an hour. Each step is in the guide.