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Donor Responses

Normally, donating blood, plasma or platelets does not bring any unpleasant consequences. However, reactions are possible.

At the blood collection, our staff tries to prevent them or accommodate them as best they can. Of course, as a donor, you are always insured for any additional medical expenses. These are the most common reactions afterwards:

Bruise or blood bump

  • What do you notice? Often swelling due to blood accumulation in the subcutaneous tissue. The skin turns blue in the days following the donation, sometimes with localized pain. Large hematomas can sometimes cause nerve irritation or muscle strain, restriction of movement due to pressure. Usually this recovers completely.
  • What to do. A cold compress may provide relief for the first few hours. For the first 12 hours, avoid strong exertion of force with your arm. For pain, you can take paracetamol (not aspirin).
  • Cause. This can happen if your vein was punctured or if insufficient pressure was applied to the puncture site after the needle was removed. Medication use (aspirin, anticoagulants) can also contribute to this.

Bleeding from the puncture site

  • What do you notice? The puncture site spontaneously starts bleeding again.
  • What to do. Remove the pressure bandage. Apply sufficient pressure to the puncture site for a long time. After you have staunched the bleeding, apply a new pressure bandage. Do not exert great force with your arm for the first 12 hours.
  • Cause. This can happen with insufficient pressure at the puncture site, premature exertion of force with the arm or if you are taking certain medications.

Nerve stimulation or nerve injury

  • What do you notice? You notice sharp, radiating pain from the puncture site and/or tingling or numbness in your arm, hand or fingers. Muscle weakness is rare.
  • What to do. Apply cold compresses. For pain, you can take paracetamol. Usually it heals spontaneously. If pain persists or increases or if there is muscle weakness, it is best to consult a doctor.
  • Cause. This can happen because you feel pressure on an arm nerve, either from a hematoma or direct damage from the needle.

After arterial puncture (blood collection from artery)

  • What do you notice? Arterial puncture involves puncturing the artery instead of the vein. This results in a rapid, pulsatile filling with bright red blood.
  • What to do. The sampling assistant will ask you to apply firm pressure to the puncture site for an extra long time, for at least 20-25 minutes. The pressure bandage should also remain in situ for several hours afterwards. A well-treated arterial puncture will heal without further consequences. If you still have symptoms, consult a doctor (increasing pain or swelling in the forearm, tingling or numbness in the fingers, paleness/coldness of the forearm or hand). Do not exert great force with your arm for the first 12 hours.
  • Cause. This can happen if your arm artery or one of its side branches was accidentally punctured.

Nausea, dizziness or loss of consciousness

  • What do you notice? You experience pale, clammy skin, nausea, weakness in your legs or dizziness. Sometimes you may suddenly lose consciousness briefly - and may injure yourself as a result. Some donors experience convulsions (the involuntary contraction of their muscles) and incontinence.
  • What to do. Lie in a position with your feet higher than your heart (Trendelenburg) and use cold moist wipes on your forehead. Drink plenty of water. Avoid alcoholic beverages, copious meals and hot baths.
  • Cause. A temporary slowing of the heart rhythm and a drop in blood pressure (vasovagal reaction). This can occur with intense emotions or pain during the withdrawal, or due to the reduced blood volume caused by the blood withdrawal.

Feeling weak

  • What do you notice? Some donors may feel weak after the collection. If the donor falls unhappily in the process, injuries are not out of the question.
  • What to do. We recommend that you drink a sugared soft drink after the collection and rest for 15 minutes. This way you can usually prevent such donor reactions It is also important to continue to drink well in the hours after a donation.
  • Cause. Feeling weak is usually caused by a drop in blood pressure. Sometimes it can lead to loss of consciousness or fainting.

Stomach burden or vomiting

  • What do you notice? Some donors experience vomiting, upset stomach or diarrhea after the collection.
  • What to do. Lie in a position with your feet higher than your heart (Trendelenburg) and use cold moist wipes on your forehead. Drink plenty of water. Avoid alcoholic beverages, copious meals and hot baths.
  • Cause. Gastrointestinal discomfort may occur after donation as part of a vasovagal reaction. Those who donate plasma or platelets may also suffer from the anticoagulant we use to make the donor blood uncoagulable during donation. This can cause a temporary shortage of calcium in the blood, making muscles and nerves more irritable. This may manifest itself during donation by a strange taste, tingling in the lips, a cold feeling or gastrointestinal discomfort.