Check your blood supply
Giving blood, we literally do it for each other. That you are definitely helping someone out of need with your donation is a fact! But did you know that not all blood is suitable for everyone? Who you can give blood to and from depends on your blood type and rhesus factor.
The different blood groups
There are 4 different blood groups. They are named after the antigens found on the outside of red blood cells. So there is blood with antigen A, antigen B or with a mixture of A and B. Blood without these antigens also exists. We call that O. That O actually stands for zero. If you were to give blood with a certain antigen to someone who does not have that antigen, the body sees the antigens as invaders and starts fighting them.
The rhesus factor must also be correct for you to be able to give blood. That factor is indicated by a + or - after the letter of your blood type. The rhesus D antigen is the most important. If your red blood cells carry that antigen, your blood is rhesus positive. In that case, your blood should not be administered to patients who do not have that rhesus D antigen (and are rhesus-negative). If you have rhesus-positive blood, you can receive both blood with and without this rhesus characteristic.
Who are you helping?
To eliminate as many complications as possible, hospitals prefer to give patients blood of the same blood group. In medical emergencies, O-negative blood is administered because it does not contain antigens to which a patient can react. Thus, a donor with O-negative blood is the universal donor.
Plasma: just as life-saving
Plasma may be a lesser known form of blood donation, but it is just as important and life-saving! Whether you are A, B, AB or O: we can definitely use your plasma! If you have blood type AB, you can give plasma to anyone. But AB is the least common: only 5% of the population. So are you AB? Then we are making an extra warm call to give plasma!
Learn more about your blood type
A-
Only 6% of the Belgian population is A-. You are an ideal blood and platelet donor.
Sometimes we make an extra appeal to people with blood type A- to donate blood, because this blood type is less prevalent and thus the supply of these blood products is more difficult to maintain.
Did you know that you can always combine a blood donation with a plasma donation? Plasma you may donate every 14 days and after a blood donation you must wait 28 days before your plasma donation.
May give blood to:
May receive blood from:
A+
34% of the Belgian population is A+. You are an ideal blood and platelet donor.
You can always combine a blood donation with a plasma donation. You may donate plasma every 14 days, and after a blood donation you must wait 28 days before your plasma donation.
May give blood to:
May receive blood from:
B-
Only 1.5% of the Belgian population is B-. You are an ideal blood and plasma donor.
Blood type B- is a blood group that is very rare. As a result, the demand for this blood type is less, but so is the supply. This is why we see people with blood type B- very happy to donate blood.
However, you are also an ideal plasma donor. If you prefer not to donate blood, definitely consider occasional plasma donation. You may donate plasma every 14 days, and after a blood donation, you should wait 28 days before your plasma donation. With a plasma donation, you help patients who have severe clotting disorders due to massive blood loss or blood diseases, newborn babies with severe jaundice... Your plasma is also used in the preparation of many medicines.
May give blood to:
May receive blood from:
B+
8.5% of the Belgian population is B+. You are an ideal blood and plasma donor.
You are especially needed as a plasma donor. So consider moving to a donor center near you anyway. Plasma you may donate every 14 days. After a blood donation, you should wait 28 days before your plasma donation.
May give blood to:
May receive blood from:
O-
6.75% of the Belgian population is O-. You are an ideal blood and platelet donor.
As a universal donor, you may give blood to anyone. This is why we often make an extra appeal for you to donate blood. In medical emergencies, there is often no time to verify the patient's blood type. In such situations, O-negative blood is administered. Therefore, more O-negative blood is needed than is proportionately available in the population. As a donor with O-negative blood type, it is best to donate blood 4 times a year. If you want to help additionally, you can combine giving blood with a plasma or platelet donation.
May give blood to:
May receive blood from:
O+
38.25% of the Belgian population is O+. You are an ideal blood and platelet donor.
We ask you to give blood in the first place. If you want to help additionally, you can combine giving blood with a plasma or platelet donation.
May give blood to:
May receive blood from:
AB-
Only 0.75% of the Belgian population is AB-. You are an ideal blood and plasma donor.
You are extremely rare. You are needed as a blood donor, but are also a universal plasma donor. Your plasma may be administered to anyone. We therefore ask you to combine your blood donation with a plasma donation at a donor center near you. After a blood donation, you must wait 28 days before your plasma donation.
May give blood to:
May receive blood from:
AB+
Only 4.25% of the Belgian population is AB+. You are an ideal blood and plasma donor. You are extremely rare. You are needed as a blood donor, but are also a universal plasma donor. Your plasma may be administered to anyone. You may give plasma every 14 days, and after a blood donation you must wait 28 days before your plasma donation.
First and foremost, we ask you to donate plasma at a donor center near you.
May give blood to:
May receive blood from:
Donor map of Flanders
How many people give blood in Flanders? Who gives blood in your neighborhood? View the map showing the number of donors per Flemish municipality.
Flanders
These filters allow you to refine or search the selection
Hover your mouse over the map to see the number of donors in the municipality.
Click on a municipality to select it.
Donation Type
Blood
Plasma
Platelets
Gender
Men
Women
