Frequently Asked Questions

You can donate blood while using most medication, but there are a few exceptions. Usually it is not the medication, but rather the condition that the medication is given for that is a problem for donation. Also look up the reason for use in this keyword list.

Always take (the names of) the medication you use along to the Blood Bank.

If in doubt, please contact the Blood Bank (088-730 8686).

You must weigh 50 kg or more to donate blood. You may not donate blood if you weigh less than this because it is a health risk.

Please contact the Blood Bank at 088-730 8686.

Can I donate blood or plasma with shingles? If you have (had) shingles, you can donate blood again two weeks after you have recovered. Contact with someone who has shingles is not an obstacle to donating blood if you have not had direct contact with the affected skin. The above also applies to varicella (chickenpox). This is rare in adults, but it is the same virus.

Contact with someone who has shingles is not a problem for blood donation if you have not come into direct contact with the affected skin.

You may donate blood if you have been symptom-free for at least 2 weeks and have not used antiviral medication for at least 2 weeks. If you have been in contact with a person who has the flu, you may donate blood so long as you do not have any symptoms. Should you develop symptoms within 1 week of donating blood, please contact the Blood Bank as quickly as possible (088-730 8686).

The Human T-cell Lymphotropic Virus (HTLV) is a virus that can cause a rare form of leukemia.

Have you come into contact with an HTLV patient in a professional capacity? This is not a problem for blood donation, so long as you have not been involved in a needle stick or biting accident. If you have been involved in such an incident, you may only donate blood again after 4 months.

Does or did your partner have HTLV? Please contact the Blood Bank (088-730 8686).

If you have (had) an HTLV infection: contact the Blood Bank (088-730 8686).

Please contact the Blood Bank at 088-730 8686.

Red blood cells are a portion of the cells you donate during blood donation. This lowers your hemoglobin(Hb) level temporarily. Because we want to ensure you have enough Hb in your blood, we assess your Hb level before donating.

To donate blood your Hb level must be at least 8.4 mmol/l for men and 7.8 mmol/l for women. Since your red blood cells are returned to you during plasma donation, the required Hb levels for this type of donation are different. To donate plasma the Hb level in men must be at least 8.1 mmol/l and 7.5 mmol/l for women. 

If you have been diagnosed with hemochromatosis, there are possibilities for donating blood at Sanquin.
If the disease is not yet in a stable phase or if you have a secondary form of hemochromatosis (this is hemochromatosis due to another disease), your doctor may ask us to perform a therapeutic blood collection (phlebotomy). This blood is not used to treat patients.
If you have the primary (hereditary) form of the disease, and it is in a stable phase, your blood can be donated to patients if you meet the following requirements:
Your ferritin levels in the blood must be lower than 100 microgram per litre.
You are otherwise healthy and meet the requirements set for all other donors. You can check our registration form to see if you qualify.
Your doctor must submit a request including a recent ferritin level in the blood. Your doctor must reconfirm that the disease is still stable annually, using a form (including a recent ferritin blood test).
After registration, you will meet with a donation doctor and the standard blood tests will be performed to determine whether you can become a donor.
Donation frequency is no more than 3 times per year for women and 5 times per year for men. There must be at least 8 weeks between donations.
Please contact the Blood Bank if you have any questions (088-730 8686).

You may not donate blood. If you are a carrier or hemophilia runs in your family, this is not a problem for donation. If your partner has hemophilia, you may not donate blood if your partner was treated with clotting factors before 1987. If you have had sexual contact with someone who was treated with clotting factors before 1987 because of hemophilia, you can donate after 4 months.