Questions after your donation

Eating a normal, easily digestible meal about 2 hours before you come to donate is ideal. A rest, cookie and otherwise normal diet afterward is also sufficient to restore blood components quickly. Drink more water than usual both before and after your donation for proper fluid balance. Other non-alcoholic beverages can, of course, be consumed as well. At our blood collections and donor centers, you will be offered water and drinks before and after your donation. Be sure to take those. In the 24 hours afterwards, it is a good idea to avoid diuretic drinks such as alcohol and coffee.

Menu tips: meat, fish, seafood, poultry, eggs, dark (leafy) vegetables, mushrooms, whole grain bread, grain products, beans, legumes, fruits, nuts, seeds and kernels. These are foods rich in iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid. Ideal for restoring hemoglobin levels after a blood donation. If you also eat some fruits high in vitamin C (citrus fruits, kiwis, blueberries, for example), the iron from the plant foods is better absorbed.

Major physical or athletic exercise is not recommended. Until about 12 hours after the collection. Your blood pressure may be lower or less stable. It is also best to avoid standing for a long time during the first 4 hours after the test. This will prevent any dizziness, drop in blood pressure or loss of consciousness.

Yes, most activities can be resumed after the test. During the first hours after the blood sample is taken, it is better not to perform any top activities. Then the oxygen transport capacity in your blood is lower. Doing a dangerous job or engaging in physical or athletic exercise is not recommended. Until about 12 hours after the test. Because your blood pressure may be lower or less stable. It is also best to avoid standing for a long time during the first 4 hours after the test. This will prevent any dizziness, drop in blood pressure or loss of consciousness.

Be sure to report it to us (confidentially). Even with the slightest doubt. It is important that you always inform us of any risks of contamination. The reason? The so-called window period. That is the period between an infection with a virus and the time when the virus only becomes visible in the blood. During that interim period, the virus is not traceable. Not even with lab tests! That window period can last several weeks. In some cases up to 6 months. So if you have been infected recently, we may not yet be able to detect the virus in your blood toxin.

Therefore, in order to avoid 100% certainty that we are circulating contaminated blood, it is extremely important that you inform us at the slightest doubt. Did you not do so during the conversation with the donor doctor or when filling out the questionnaire? Then you can also do it afterwards. Please use the post-donation donor card that you received when you registered at the collection. On that card are the necessary instructions, a phone number and some details about your donation. Such post-donation notification is done confidentially. What are risk situations? And what happens if I don't report risk situations?

Normally, donating blood, plasma or platelets does not bring any unpleasant consequences. However, reactions are possible. At the blood collection our staff does everything possible to prevent them or cope with them as well as possible.

Are you sick after your donation, or do you get a fever (higher than 37.5°C in the first 72 hours after your donation)? Then you may have an infection. That infection could already be present at the time of your donation. You may also learn after your donation that you were actually already sick at the time of your donation. Or that you take a positive coronary test in the 14 days after your donation. In that case, it is important that you report this to us as soon as possible. This way you help to ensure a safe blood supply.

No. A blood, plasma or platelet donation is and always remains anonymous. Each blood bag contains a donation number. That number refers to a donor. But the blood bag itself never reveals its origin. The name of the donor is never disclosed to the recipient of the blood. As a result, even as a donor, you cannot decide who will help you with your blood, plasma or platelets.

Please don't hesitate to tell us. We appreciate your feedback. Together we can continue to improve our services.

Please feel free to contact our medical secretariat.

• For East & West Flanders: medischsecretariaat.gent@rodekruis.be or 09 244 56 65.
• For other regions: medischsecretariaat.mechelen@rodekruis.be or 015 44 57 44.