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Travel information for blood donors

Travel outside the UK can affect your eligibility to give blood, because you may have been exposed to infectious diseases. We ask all donors about travel outside the UK in the previous 12 months. Our guidelines are updated regularly, so we ask about your travel each time you come to give blood.

Welcome pack

Our welcome pack gives information on what you need to know as a new blood donor, including preparing to give blood, guidance on blood types, and detail about the people you can help.

Malaria and donation

Malaria is an infection carried by certain mosquitoes - without treatment, some people can become very ill and die. Malaria can be passed on by transfusion so we need to test donors with malaria risk factors to ensure their blood is safe for patients. This leaflet explains more about malarial risks and the measures we take to help keep our blood supply safe.

Giving platelets

Giving platelets is a different process to giving blood, and helps a distinct set of patients. This leaflet gives more information on the criteria for becoming a platelet donor and who platelets can help.

Lipaemic donations

Sometimes the plasma in a donation is not able to be used because of fatty deposits. This leaflet explains more about this issue, and gives information on what to do next.

Giving plasma

Find out more about plasma, how it can help patients, and whether you can donate.

Where can I give blood?

FAIR: Questions for donors

UK blood services are starting to assess eligibility on a person-by-person basis, instead of applying across-the-board restrictions which have previously excluded potential donors. This leaflet gives more information on the new questions that will be asked, and why this change is taking place.

Give blood at work

Throughout Scotland, many corporate supporters help patients by giving blood - and we’d love to welcome more.

Donor health check form (sample)

Every blood donor has to fill in a form giving information about themselves and their medical history each time they come to give blood. This sample leaflet shows you what the form looks like and the questions asked, but is watermarked, and cannot be used.