Homologous Blood Donation How To Be A Blood Donor Blood Donation Procedures An Important Message To Blood DonorsThe Bloodbank@HSA needs at least 250 blood donors every day to meet the transfusion needs of patients at all the hospitals in Singapore. With an increasing population and more sophisticated medical procedures, the need for donors is increasing.
Below are the criteria to evaluate a prospective donor as to whether he / she is suitable for blood donation.
Click here for the PDF copy of pamphlet Blood Donation
Basic Requirements
Age : 16 to 60 years (16 & 17-year-old can donate with parental / guardian consent)
Weight : At least 45 kg (100 Ibs.) for both males and females
Health : Generally good
Well Being : Feeling well that day.
Haemoglobin level: at least 12.5 g/dl for males; At least 12.0 g/dl for females
Interval Between Blood Donations
At least 12 weeks (3 months)
Major Illness / Surgery
Persons with the following conditions are not eligible to donate blood:
Diseases of the heart or lungs (Asymptomatic Asthma individuals are eligible).
Cancer
High blood pressure on medication (except diuretics)
Diabetes on medication
Abnormal bleeding tendency or blood disorder
Major surgery (can donate after 6 - 12 months)
AIDS or symptoms of AIDS, such as unexplained fevers, severe night sweats, unexpected weight loss, swollen glands, chronic diarrhoea or rare cancer
Uncontrolled seizures after infancy
Hepatitis B or C
Syphilis
Some Common Reasons For Temporary DeferralIf you have had:
Fever (Temperature >38oC), with or without other symptoms, please wait three weeks after recovery or treatment.
Cold, sore throat or any other symptoms of infection, please wait one week after recovery or treatment
Tooth extraction or dental work, wait for 3 days after treatment (wisdom tooth surgical extraction, please wait 3 months)
Skin infections (minor), wait 1 week after complete healing
Normal pregnancy, wait 6 weeks after delivery and when you are not breast feeding.
Close contact with hepatitis B, wait 12 months and after full course of hepatitis B vaccination (and shown a satisfactory antibody response)
Infectious Diseases eg Chickenpox, Measles, Dengue, wait 6 months after recovery
Tattoo, pierced ears, accupuncture and blood transfusions, wait 1 year and inform the attending doctor/nurse
Blood Transmitted Diseases
See "An Important Message to Blood Donors "
Medication
Those taking drugs for cancer treatment, heart diseases or current infections will not be accepted as blood donors.
At least 2 days after:
Traditional Chinese Medicine (3 days)
Tetanus toxoid vaccination (48 hours)
Hepatitis B vaccination (48 hours)
Rabis vaccination (with no exposure) (48 hours)
Pneumococcus vaccination (48 hours)
Meningococcus vaccination (48 hours)
At least 1 week after:
At least 2 weeks after:
Typhoid vaccination
Cholera vaccination
Diphtheria vaccination
Influenza (Flu) vaccination
Pertussis vaccination
Plague vaccination
Polio (injection) vaccination
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever vaccination
Typhus vaccination
At least 4 weeks after:
Rubella (German Measles) vaccination
Yellow fever, measles, mumps vaccination
Oral Polio vaccination
Hepatitis A vaccination
Proprecia - For hair loss
Isotretinion (eg Accutane, Roaccutane etc) - For acne treatment
At least 1 year after:
Products derived from human plasma:
WEF 28 AUGUST 2005
You will not be eligible to donate blood indefinately if you have received any of the following since 1st January 1980:
Human plasma products (eg. Albumin, Immunoglobulin).
Hepatitis B Immune Globulin (post exposure).
Rabies Immune Globulin (post exposure).
Travel
Please inform the medical screener if you have visited:
- Malaria endemic areas such as Thailand, East Malaysia, Indonesia, Phillipines, India, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam etc in the last 6 weeks
North America or Canada in the last 4 weeks
- If you have visited the above-mentioned countries, you are still eligible for blood donation provided your weight is >51kg and your Haemoglobin level >13g/dL.
Travel to Europe
WEF 1 JULY 2002
You will not be eligible to donate blood indefinitely if you fall into ANY one of the following 3 groups:
You have visited or lived in the United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Man, or the Channel Island) from 1980 through 1996 for a cumulative period of 3 months or more.
You have received a transfusion of blood or blood components in the United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, or the Channel Island) between 1980 till now.
You have visited or lived in France from 1980 till now for a cumulative period of 5 years or more.
You can ONLY donate plasma through apheresis method if you have stayed in Europe (besides United Kingdom and France) for a cumulative period of more than 5 years from 1980 till the present.
Tatoo, Ear Piercing And Acupuncture
This would require a deferment period of 12 months, unless disposible needle is used.
Pregnancy And Menstrual Period
Females should not donate blood during pregnancy.
They can donate after 6 weeks following a normal delivery and when they are not breast feeding.
Females should not donate blood if they are having heavy menstrual flow or menstrual cramps.
The above criteria cover some common situations that will render a prospective donor not suitable to donate blood. The doctor or nurse during the medical interview will exercise medical judgement in individual cases.
Donors who are interested in donating blood will have to bring along their NRIC or donation card for registration. Non-Singaporeans will have to produce their passports.
