I want to give blood or plasma for the first time

Just like your first day of school or your first kiss, your first time giving blood or plasma is special. A new world opens up for you. Not only for you, but also for the patient you help get back on their feet!

And we can reassure you right away: it's easy, safe and painless. The best proof: those who have donated once, usually continue to do so. After all, it makes you feel incredibly good. You know you're saving someone's life with it.

What do you need to do and know?

Know that you are safe and in good hands. We use only specially trained staff. Our staff uses sterile equipment that is only for you.
Location and time of your donation? You choose those when you make your reservation. Did you know that every working day there are about 23 places where you can give blood? There is always a collection near you!
Don't come to your donation hungry. Also avoid the opposite: a heavy, fatty meal right before. Eating a normal meal about 2 hours beforehand is ideal. A rest, cookie and otherwise normal diet is sufficient to quickly restore the blood components given off afterwards.
Tip: drink more water than usual both before and after your donation. Other non-alcoholic beverages can, of course, as well. In the 24 hours after, it is a good idea to avoid diuretic drinks such as alcohol and coffee.
What do you bring? Your identification card.
Please also go through the online donor self-test. This will tell you if you meet the main criteria for being allowed to donate blood or plasma.
Would you like to donate plasma? You can do so even if you have never given blood before.
Clear? Great, then this button is yours:

I make my first appointment

The key steps before, during and after your donation.

Take care of yourself as well as safe blood thanks to these steps.

Step by step explained

How does blood donation work?

For your donation

Take the donor self-test. This way you can be sure you are allowed to donate.
Be sure to eat something. Eating a normal, easily digestible meal about 2 hours before you come to donate is ideal. Do not come to your donation sober or hungry, as you will have less reserve and be more likely to faint.

Step 1: registration

You sign up at a blood collection in your area or at a donor center.
A Red Cross worker reads the details of your ID card.
As of now, you are a registered donor and have a donor number.
You will be given a medical questionnaire and the "May I Give?" information brochure.
In addition, a post donation donor card with your personal information and unique donation ID.

Step 2 & 3: read the brochure and drink a glass of water

You take the list, brochure and card to the donor corner, where you can read through the brochure at your leisure.
Be sure to drink some more water. That way your donation will go more smoothly.

Step 4: medical questionnaire

Fill out the medical questionnaire quietly.
The questionnaire inquires about your health condition, any medical treatments and risk situations. A truthfully completed medical questionnaire is one of the most important pillars for safe blood.

Step 5: medical examination

You will visit the doctor with your completed questionnaire.
He checks your blood pressure, pulse and weight.
Based on the medical examination, your answers to the questionnaire and additional questions, he will decide whether or not you can donate blood.
Of course, you can also go to the doctor with all your questions about your donation.
Are you coming to give blood for the first time? Then we will also measure your hemoglobin level before you donate. Have you already given blood and your hemoglobin level was too low on your previous donation? Then we will measure your hemoglobin level again on site and if the results are good, you can donate immediately.

Step 6: donation

After the doctor gives his permission to donate, you may take a seat on a collection bed. A Red Cross worker briefly checks your identity.
The doctor or nurse puts a tourniquet around your arm. He disinfects the puncture site and then pricks an appropriate vein with a sterile needle. We divert the first 25 ml of your blood into a sample bag attached to the blood bag. With this we fill the sample tubes that we test in the laboratory. When the sample bag is full, your blood donation starts. It takes about 9 minutes for the blood bag to fill.
At the end of the blood draw, we remove the needle. You will get a pressure bandage around your arm to cover the small puncture wound. We use the collection material only once. It is for your use only.

After your donation

Lo and behold, the blood draw is over. You will be given a drink to restore your fluid balance. Sit down for a moment. Drink it quietly.
It's best to rest for 15 minutes before going home again.
After your donation, it is best not to drink alcoholic beverages.
It is best to remove the pressure bandage around your arm only after a few hours.
We do not recommend strenuous physical or athletic activities for the first 12 hours after collection.
Anything else to report after your donation? Report anything that might make your donation unsafe, for the sake of the patient receiving your blood. Follow the instructions on your post-donation donor card.
We process your donation securely and quickly.
After the necessary tests , we take your blood to the hospitals or patients.
Do you have questions or doubts afterwards? Then of course you can contact us at bloed@rodekruis.be.

How does a plasma donation proceed?

For your donation

Take the Donor Self-Test. This way you can be sure you are allowed to donate.
Be sure to eat something. Eating a normal, easily digestible meal about 2 hours before you come to donate is ideal. Do not come to your donation sober or hungry, as you will have less reserve and be more likely to faint.

Step 1: registration

You sign up at a donor center.
A Red Cross worker reads the details of your ID card.
As of now, you are a registered donor and have a donor number.
You will be given a medical questionnaire and the "May I Give?" information brochure.
In addition, a post donation donor card with your personal information and unique donation ID.

Step 2 & 3: read the brochure and drink a glass of water

You take the list, brochure and card to the donor corner, where you can read through the brochure at your leisure.
Be sure to drink some more water. That way your donation will go more smoothly.

Step 4: medical questionnaire

Fill out the medical questionnaire quietly.
The questionnaire inquires about your health condition, any medical treatments and risk situations. A truthfully completed medical questionnaire is one of the most important pillars for safe blood.

Step 5: medical examination

You will visit the doctor with your completed questionnaire.
He checks your blood pressure, pulse and weight.
Based on the medical examination, your answers to the questionnaire and additional questions, he will decide whether or not you can give plasma.
Of course, you can also go to the doctor with all your questions about your donation.

Step 6: donation

After the doctor gives his permission to donate, you may take a seat on a collection bed. A Red Cross worker briefly checks your identity.
The doctor or nurse puts a tourniquet around your arm. He disinfects the puncture site and then pricks an appropriate vein with a sterile needle. We divert the first 25 ml of your blood into a sample bag. With this blood we fill the sample tubes that we will test in the laboratory. Then your plasma donation starts. Through a mini-centrifuge , we separate the plasma from the blood cells. Your plasma ends up in a collection bag, your blood cells are returned to you. Everything is done in a safe and professional manner with sterile disposable material.
At the end of the collection, we remove the needle. You will get a pressure bandage around your arm to cover the small puncture wound. We use the collection material only once, it is for you only.

After your donation

Lo and behold, the decrease is over. You are given a drink to restore your fluid balance. Sit down for a moment. Drink it quietly.
It is best to rest for 15 minutes before returning home.
After your donation, it is best not to drink alcoholic beverages.
It is best to remove the pressure bandage around your arm only after a few hours.
We do not recommend strenuous physical or athletic activities for the first 12 hours after collection.
Anything else to report after your donation? Report anything that might make your donation unsafe, for the sake of the patient receiving your plasma. Follow the instructions on your post-donation donor card.
We process your donation securely and quickly.
After the necessary tests, we take your donation to the hospitals or patients.
Do you have questions or doubts afterwards? Then of course you can contact us at bloed@rodekruis.be.

How does a platelet donation proceed?

For your donation

Take the Donor Self-Test. This way you can be sure you are allowed to donate.
Be sure to eat something. Eating a normal, easily digestible meal about 2 hours before you come to donate is ideal. Do not come to your donation sober or hungry, as you will have less reserve and be more likely to faint.

Step 1: registration

You sign up at a donor center.
A Red Cross worker reads the details of your ID card.
As of now, you are a registered donor and have a donor number.
You will be given a medical questionnaire and the "May I Give?" information brochure.
In addition, a post donation donor card with your personal information and unique donation ID.

Step 2 & 3: read the brochure and drink a glass of water

You take the list, brochure and card to the donor corner, where you can read through the brochure at your leisure.
Be sure to drink some more water. That way your donation will go more smoothly.

Step 4: medical questionnaire

Fill out the medical questionnaire quietly.
The questionnaire inquires about your health condition, any medical treatments and risk situations. A truthfully completed medical questionnaire is one of the most important pillars for safe blood.

Step 5: medical examination

You will visit the doctor with your completed questionnaire.
He checks your blood pressure, pulse and weight.
Based on the medical examination, your answers to the questionnaire and additional questions, he will decide whether or not you can give platelets.
Of course, you can also go to the doctor with all your questions about your donation.

Step 6: donation

After the doctor gives his permission to donate, you may take a seat on a collection bed. A Red Cross worker briefly checks your identity.
The doctor or nurse puts a tourniquet around your arm. He disinfects the puncture site and then pricks an appropriate vein with a sterile needle. We divert the first 25 ml of your blood into a sample bag. With that blood we fill the sample tubes that we will test in the laboratory. After that, your platelet collection starts. During the collection, your blood runs to a device. In it, a centrifuge separates the platelets and dissolves them in a small amount of plasma. The other blood components and blood cells are returned to you.
At the end of the collection, we remove the needle. You will get a pressure bandage around your arm to cover the small puncture wound. We use the collection material only once. It is for your use only.

After your donation

Lo and behold, the platelet collection is over. You will be given a drink to restore your fluid balance. Sit down for a moment. Drink it slowly.
It is best to rest for 15 minutes before returning home.
After your donation, it is best not to drink alcoholic beverages.
It is best to remove the pressure bandage around your arm only after a few hours.
We do not recommend strenuous physical or athletic activities for the first 12 hours after collection.
Anything else to report after your donation? Report anything that might make your donation unsafe, for the sake of the patient receiving your platelets. Follow the instructions on your post-donation donor card.
We process your donation securely and quickly.
After the necessary tests, we take your donation to the hospitals or patients.
Do you have questions or doubts afterwards? Then of course you can contact us at bloed@rodekruis.be.