Becoming a blood donor is easier than many people think. Here is how it works, what is required and what happens at your first visit.
Who can donate?
You need to be healthy, weigh at least 50 kilos, be between 18 and 65 years old when you register as a new donor, and be able to prove your identity. Existing donors may continue donating up to the age of 75. You also need a Swedish personal identity number and to be able to communicate with staff in Swedish or English, since the health declaration must be understood correctly.
Registration
Registration and appointments are handled by the regional blood centres through the shared service geblod.nu, where you can also find your nearest blood centre or blood bus.
Your first visit
You complete a health declaration and talk to a nurse. A blood sample is taken to determine your blood group and haemoglobin level. You will often donate at your second visit rather than the first.
The donation
About 450 ml of blood is collected, which takes 5–10 minutes. You then rest and are offered something to eat and drink. The whole visit takes about half an hour.
Afterwards
Drink extra fluids during the day and avoid strenuous exercise for a few hours. Women can normally donate about three times a year and men about four times a year.