Frequently Asked Questions

When you can donate again depends on the operation you have had and the results. 

• Major surgery: After a major operation (such as a hip operation) you can donate blood or plasma again after four months. During the operation you may lose blood and it can take some time for the body to fully recover. (A different recommendation applies after a gastric bypass – see maagverkleining [in Dutch]) 

• Minor surgery: After a minor operation, you can donate blood or plasma again after seven days. Examples of a minor operation are cataract surgery, eyelid correction, removal of a lipoma, or circumcision. 

In addition, it is important that all of the following conditions are met: 

• The wound has healed and the stitches have been removed. 

• If you have had a biopsy, the results are known and all clear. 

• You have fully recovered and you feel fit. 

PLEASE NOTE! If you have had a laparoscopy either for diagnosis or surgery (‘keyhole surgery’), or an endoscopy, you may not be allowed to donate blood or plasma for the following four months. 

If you are due to undergo surgery soon, always consult the doctor at the donor centre before you donate blood or plasma. If you have questions regarding upcoming surgery, contact the blood bank at 088-730 8686. 

You may donate blood 4 months after the treatment.

You may not donate blood (any more). Please contact the Blood Bank at 088-730 8686.

You may donate blood 4 months after the procedure.

If you have ever been diagnosed with chest pain due to lack of oxygen to your heart, you may not give blood or plasma (any more). Donating blood may be associated with health risks in this case, even if you do not have any symptoms any more. For other causes of chest pain: consult the donation doctor before donating blood. Please contact the Blood Bank about this at 088-730 8686.

You may donate blood if there are no signs of cancer.

Note: You may not donate blood for 4 months following an endoscopy (a procedure with a camera on a tube), regardless of the results of the investigation."

You may donate blood if you are symptom-free. You may not donate blood for 4 months following a colonoscopy.

Please contact the Blood Bank at 088-730 8686.

You may donate blood. You may not donate blood for 4 months following an endoscopy (a procedure with a camera on a tube). An elevated PSA is not a problem for blood donation, so long as there are no signs of cancer.

You may donate as long as it has been 4 months or more since you last received money or drugs for sex. If you paid someone for sex these four months since the last paid contact also apply.