Any questions
about blood
donation?

A whole blood donation is 475 ml of blood. The sampling machine is set to stop exactly when this volume is reached. This is a volume that presents no risk for a healthy adult, male or female, weighing more than 50 kilos. Your body will replace the “missing” blood very quickly. It is used to it: the body constantly destroys and manufactures all the components of blood.

For plasma and platelets, the volume is adapted to your body size, averaging 600 ml for a plasma donation.

No, not more than when you go to a medical analysis laboratory and have your blood taken. You can feel the prick at the very beginning, but the flow of blood during the donation is painless. You may possibly have a small bruise that appears at the entry point of the needle: it is of no consequence!

No, for each donation, we use sterile and single-use equipment. The needle and bag that are used are only used once.

Yes, just don't forget to hydrate yourself properly by taking advantage of the snack offered after the donation. It is enough to perk you up and allow you to drive. If you feel good, everything is fine. If your car was in the sunlight, please remember to ventilate it well to bring down the temperature.

For a very short time after the donation, blood pressure can slightly decrease. But it will rise and stabilise very quickly. The only thing to do: drink before, do not get up too quickly after the donation and take advantage of the snack to drink and nibble something.

No, for each donation, we use sterile and single-use equipment. The needle and bag that are used are only used once.

Your body is constantly making each of the components of blood. The quantity taken does not create any particular lack in the donor. The liquid part – water, in fact – is immediately replaced (hence the importance of drinking well before and after). The rest is manufactured very quickly, and all the cells will be replaced in a few weeks.

Each bag collected is analysed. The research focuses mainly on blood-borne infections: A-B-C hepatitis, HIV, syphilis… We also check each time the blood type, the amount of red blood cells and other elements of the same kind. Finally, if you indicated, during your interview prior to the donation, that you stayed in certain specific countries, we can trigger an analysis for diseases that are endemic to these areas.

One more thing: we do not analyse elements that are traditionally measured in laboratories, such as the level of cholesterol in the blood.

If there is no problem that is detected, no. We will only contact you if we have found an anomaly. "No news is good news!”

You will receive, no later than your second donation, a blood donor card on which we indicate your blood group. However, beware, this is not a medical document that you can use in another medical context.

Yes, on your second visit, you will receive your donor card, directly at the reception of your collection site.

Yes! The more donors we have, the more certain we will be of being able to meet the needs of the sick and injured who need blood products. Your blood type is rare? A receiver will also have the same group as you! And we are still unable to manufacture blood… We need a giving human being to help another human being who needs it.

Yes! The more donors we have, the more certain we will be of being able to meet the needs of the sick and injured who need blood products. Is your blood type widespread? Many receivers will have the same group as you! And we are still unable to manufacture blood… We need a giving human being to help another human being who needs it.

Between your arrival at the collection site and the end of the donation, the average time is approximately 34 minutes for full blood donations. The blood donation itself only takes about ten minutes.

For the donation of plasma or platelets, it is longer and takes an hour. After the donation, we advise you to take a break and enjoy the snack for 15-30 minutes, to make sure everything is fine.

If you are in good health, over the age of 18 and weighing more than 50 kilos, you can donate blood. It may happen that there are contraindications. Each donation will be preceded by an interview to ensure that it is possible.

Test yourselves here !

It all depends on the type of donation.

For blood donation, you have to wait 3 months (if you are a man) or 4 months (if you are a woman). If you donate your plasma or platelets, you have to wait a month.

The Blood Transfusion Center is located in Luxembourg City, near the Glacis. It is open Monday through Friday, and opens at 8:00 a.m. It closes at 4:00 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, and at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays. This is also where you can donate your plasma or platelets.

On Mondays and Tuesdays, it is also possible to donate blood at the Medical Center located in Esch-Belval.

From Wednesday to Friday, a team is present at a collection point, different every day, in different places in the country.

In addition to the interview carried out before each donation, which makes it possible to detect contraindications to donation, each bag of blood or plasma collected is analysed to check your good health and that there is no unexpected pathogen.

The platelets are also treated to reduce the residual risks of the presence of viruses or bacteria.

A whole blood donation is 475 ml of blood. The sampling machine is set to stop exactly when this volume is reached. This is a volume that presents no risk for a healthy adult, male or female, weighing more than 50 kilos. Your body will replace the “missing” blood very quickly. It is used to it: the body constantly destroys and manufactures all the components of blood.

For plasma and platelets, the volume is adapted to your body size, averaging 600 ml for a plasma donation.

Yes! The more donors we have, the more certain we will be of being able to meet the needs of the sick and injured who need blood products. Your blood type is rare? A receiver will also have the same group as you! And we are still unable to manufacture blood… We need a giving human being to help another human being who needs it.

Yes! The more donors we have, the more certain we will be of being able to meet the needs of the sick and injured who need blood products. Is your blood type widespread? Many receivers will have the same group as you! And we are still unable to manufacture blood… We need a giving human being to help another human being who needs it.

Each bag collected is analysed. The research focuses mainly on blood-borne infections: A-B-C hepatitis, HIV, syphilis… We also check each time the blood type, the amount of red blood cells and other elements of the same kind. Finally, if you indicated, during your interview prior to the donation, that you stayed in certain specific countries, we can trigger an analysis for diseases that are endemic to these areas.

One more thing: we do not analyse elements that are traditionally measured in laboratories, such as the level of cholesterol in the blood.

You will receive, no later than your second donation, a blood donor card on which we indicate your blood group. However, beware, this is not a medical document that you can use in another medical context.

Between your arrival at the collection site and the end of the donation, the average time is approximately 34 minutes for full blood donations. The blood donation itself only takes about ten minutes.

For the donation of plasma or platelets, it is longer and takes an hour. After the donation, we advise you to take a break and enjoy the snack for 15-30 minutes, to make sure everything is fine.

If you are in good health, over the age of 18 and weighing more than 50 kilos, you can donate blood. It may happen that there are contraindications. Each donation will be preceded by an interview to ensure that it is possible.

Test yourselves here !

It all depends on the type of donation.

For blood donation, you have to wait 3 months (if you are a man) or 4 months (if you are a woman). If you donate your plasma or platelets, you have to wait a month.

In addition to the interview carried out before each donation, which makes it possible to detect contraindications to donation, each bag of blood or plasma collected is analysed to check your good health and that there is no unexpected pathogen.

The platelets are also treated to reduce the residual risks of the presence of viruses or bacteria.

Each bag collected is analysed. The research focuses mainly on blood-borne infections: A-B-C hepatitis, HIV, syphilis… We also check each time the blood type, the amount of red blood cells and other elements of the same kind. Finally, if you indicated, during your interview prior to the donation, that you stayed in certain specific countries, we can trigger an analysis for diseases that are endemic to these areas.

One more thing: we do not analyse elements that are traditionally measured in laboratories, such as the level of cholesterol in the blood.

You can donate plasma at the Red Cross Blood Transfusion Centre in Luxembourg City by making an appointment on Doctena.
As with blood donations, you will be interviewed by a doctor at the time of your first donation. You will then need to allow a little more time for the sample to be taken, approximately 2 hours. During the donation, we draw your blood and separate the plasma from the other components (white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets). The other blood components are returned to you.

During the plasma donation, we draw your blood and separate the plasma from the other blood components (white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets). We return the other blood components to you.
Recovery is fast: you can donate again after just one month.

Between your arrival at the collection site and the end of the donation, the average time is approximately 34 minutes for full blood donations. The blood donation itself only takes about ten minutes.

For the donation of plasma or platelets, it is longer and takes an hour. After the donation, we advise you to take a break and enjoy the snack for 15-30 minutes, to make sure everything is fine.

If you are in good health, over the age of 18 and weighing more than 50 kilos, you can donate blood. It may happen that there are contraindications. Each donation will be preceded by an interview to ensure that it is possible.

Test yourselves here !

It all depends on the type of donation.

For blood donation, you have to wait 3 months (if you are a man) or 4 months (if you are a woman). If you donate your plasma or platelets, you have to wait a month.

In addition to the interview carried out before each donation, which makes it possible to detect contraindications to donation, each bag of blood or plasma collected is analysed to check your good health and that there is no unexpected pathogen.

The platelets are also treated to reduce the residual risks of the presence of viruses or bacteria.

Each bag collected is analysed. The research focuses mainly on blood-borne infections: A-B-C hepatitis, HIV, syphilis… We also check each time the blood type, the amount of red blood cells and other elements of the same kind. Finally, if you indicated, during your interview prior to the donation, that you stayed in certain specific countries, we can trigger an analysis for diseases that are endemic to these areas.

One more thing: we do not analyse elements that are traditionally measured in laboratories, such as the level of cholesterol in the blood.

Blood is used to treat and heal the wounded and sick. Most obviously: in the event of hemorrhage after an accident, during surgery or during childbirth. What is less obvious: blood products are used in the case of diseases that affect the production of blood by the patient's body, such as leukemia or during chemotherapy.

Yes and no. Yes, because the country has not experienced any disruption in the supply of hospitals so far. No, because stocks are too often close to their lower limit. That's why each donation counts!

The Blood Transfusion Center is located in Luxembourg City, near the Glacis. It is open Monday through Friday, and opens at 8:00 a.m. It closes at 4:00 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, and at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays. This is also where you can donate your plasma or platelets.

On Mondays and Tuesdays, it is also possible to donate blood at the Medical Center located in Esch-Belval.

From Wednesday to Friday, a team is present at a collection point, different every day, in different places in the country.

As an indication, the breakdown is estimated more or less as follows:

• group A: 45%
• group O: 43%
• group B: 9%
• group AB: 3%.

Of course! First, you can talk about it! By explaining blood donation and its importance to your relatives and friends, you can help convince undecided people. In addition, contact us: for instance, the donor snacks can also be handled by volunteers.

No. In Europe, each country is responsible for supplying its own healthcare system with blood products. In other words, blood donated in Luxembourg is used in Luxembourg.

There may be two exceptions. The first is in the event of a natural disaster or major accident. Luxembourg has signed an agreement with neighbouring countries to ask for their help at this time. The second is when a rare blood type is needed. The countries then help each other.

No, and that is why donating blood is so important. There is currently no other way that exists than to transfuse blood from one human to another human.

If scientists have been trying for years to manufacture synthetic blood, none of the current research has led to a conclusive result.

This questionnaire is the best way to ensure that there are no contraindication to donation. It is reviewed during a confidential interview with a doctor or nurse.

This ensures two things. First: you can give without risk to yourself. Second: you can donate without risk for the sick or injured person who will be transfused.

This questionnaire is the best way to ensure that there are no contraindication to donation. It is reviewed during a confidential interview with a doctor or nurse.

This ensures two things. First: you can give without risk to yourself. Second: you can donate without risk for the sick or injured person who will be transfused.

The questionnaire includes questions about possible illnesses, an operation, travel, or what is generally called risky behaviour. We are not indiscreet for pleasure, but to minimise the risk of transmitting a pathogenic agent to the sick or injured person who will receive the transfusion.

This is why we ask you for correct, precise and honest answers. This is the best way to ensure everyone's safety, both that of the donor and the recipient.

Between your arrival at the collection site and the end of the donation, the average time is approximately 34 minutes for full blood donations. The blood donation itself only takes about ten minutes.

For the donation of plasma or platelets, it is longer and takes an hour. After the donation, we advise you to take a break and enjoy the snack for 15-30 minutes, to make sure everything is fine.

It all depends on where you went… When coming back from a tropical destination, you will have to wait 6 months. For other countries, you may have to wait 28 days or 2 months. Find out more details about restrictions due to travel here.

You need at least one piece of ID. If you have your donor card, it will speed up the welcome process. And if you have an appointment confirmation, please take it with you. Nothing else is needed.

The Blood Transfusion Center is located in Luxembourg City, near the Glacis. It is open Monday through Friday, and opens at 8:00 a.m. It closes at 4:00 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, and at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays. This is also where you can donate your plasma or platelets.

On Mondays and Tuesdays, it is also possible to donate blood at the Medical Center located in Esch-Belval.

From Wednesday to Friday, a team is present at a collection point, different every day, in different places in the country.

We encourage you to make an appointment, but it is not mandatory. The appointment makes the process smoother and avoids coming during a busy moment. However, we are organised to welcome you even if you decide to donate at the last minute!

Concretely, you need an identity document, a donor card (if you have already received it) and your appointment confirmation (if you have one). And for the rest, nothing special. You can eat before, you must stay hydrated, and you must not have practiced too intense physical activity just before coming.

Of course! First, you can talk about it! By explaining blood donation and its importance to your relatives and friends, you can help convince undecided people. In addition, contact us: for instance, the donor snacks can also be handled by volunteers.

We advise you not to have an intense sport session just before the donation, or in the 24 hours following the donation.