How does the blood donation occur?

INFORMATION FOR THE FOREIGN BLOOD DONORS!

During the whole blood donation, communication takes place in Hungarian.

Blood donors must fill out a questionnaire in Hungarian before donating blood.

When you register for blood donation, please note that the Hungarian National Blood Transfusion Service (OVSz) cannot provide an interpreter for the non-Hungarian speakers.

If you come to the blood donation with an external interpreter or translator, expect that the interpreter must be present during the entire blood donation process.

Thank you for your cooperation!

Who can be a blood donor?
The principle of blood donation is that only healthy people can donate blood, thus protecting the health of both the blood donor and the patient receiving the blood. Blood donation is open to people over the age of 18 but not being 65 yet and weighs at least 50 kg. For first blood donation the upper age limit is 60 years. Women can donate blood up to 4 times and men up to 5 times a year. Another important criterion is that at least 56 days must elapse between two blood donations, as our body needs this amount of time to regenerate.

The course of blood donation
The blood donation takes about 1 hour. Blood donation is not a laboratory blood sampling, no need to arrive with an empty stomach. Before blood donation drink plenty of fluids and eat as usual, avoiding fatty foods.

Data Recording

The first step in blood donation is data collection, a credible identification of the blood donor, which will require the personal identity card, address card and the health insurance (TAJ) card. In the absence of these, unfortunately the blood donation cannot advance.
Documents required for the identification of foreign nationals:
- Photo identification document (ID): passport or ID card issued for personal identification by the authority of the country of citizenship with an identification number
- Document certifying the health insurance coverage with an identification number.

Document required for registration of a foreign residence:
- A card issued by authority of the competent country containing the name and residential address of the donor.

Recording the mailing address of persons living abroad:
- The contact details in Hungary provided by the blood donor, which contain enough information to send a postal letter.

After the data collection, a questionnaire putting questions regarding their lifestyle, illnesses and medication habits must be filled in by the blood donors. If anything is unclear, feel free to contact our colleagues with confidence.

Medical examination

The next step is a medical examination. First, we pierce the fingertip is to check the hemoglobin level, and in the case of first blood donation, a preliminary blood group determination is also performed. Blood pressure and heart rate will then be measured followed by evaluation of the responses to the completed blood donation questionnaire and the results of the tests in order to eligibility for blood donation to be determined by the examining physician.
If the examining doctor does not find the blood donor eligible for donating blood, then he or she will inform the donor of the reason and duration of the screening out, which may be temporary or permanent.
If the doctor finds everything all right, the blood donation will follow.

Blood donation

Blood is given in a semi-sitting or lying position, after arm disinfection, from the elbow vein most suitable for blood collection. Our assistants perform up to 2,500 vein stabs a year therefore it is not more than a perception of a nail biting. After piercing the elbow vein, the first 20-30 ml of blood is transferred to the sampling bag - part of the collection bag, from which the content of sample tubes required for subsequent laboratory examination is taken.
Next to the bed there is a small swinging device, this is a balance-shaker that allows you to measure the blood taken and mix it continuously with the anticoagulant solution.
5-6 liters of blood circulate in the body of an adult, of which approximately half a liter is reserve. During a blood donation, 450 ml (± 10%) of blood is taken therefore this amount can be easily replenished by the body.
The blood donation itself takes 5 -12 minutes only.
A disposable, sterile, multi-part bag system is used to draw blood in order to produce a closed system blood product. This means that during the preparation of blood products, the blood taken is completely isolated from the environment; nothing can get into the bag system. The blood bag is not empty, contains anticoagulants, and solutions required for proper cell function during storage.

Following blood donation

At the end of the blood collection, a sterile pressure bandage is applied to the puncture site, followed by a 5-10 minute rest on the blood collection bed.
Do not remove the pressure bandage for 4 hours and be sure to eat and drink plenty of fluids after donating blood!
Do not perform strenuous activities on the day of the blood donation!

Hol adhatok vért?
Where can I give blood?