1. Registration
When you arrive at the donation center, you will be asked to register. All prospective donors must present a valid photo ID (such as a driver’s license, government ID or student ID). We will ask for your name, birth date, address, phone number and e-mail address.
2. Screening
Once you have registered, you will be asked to complete a confidential health questionnaire. This form asks questions about your health, travel, and medication history. These things can affect your eligibility to donate. This procedure is done in a private screening booth.
You also have the option to answer your required health history questions on the day of your donation before coming to the donation location using QuickPass.
You then receive a mini-physical which includes a check of your pulse, temperature, and blood pressure. We will also check your hemoglobin level with a quick finger stick. You must have a specific hemoglobin level in order to donate safely. The screening process ensures that you are healthy enough to donate and that your blood is healthy enough for patients.
3. Donation
If you meet the prescribed medical requirements, you will be taken to a donor bed. The phlebotomist (the specially-trained technician who draws the blood) will clean your arm with an antiseptic to prepare for the donation. The needle stick is next, and it’s quick and relatively painless. The donation process takes less than 12 minutes.
4. Refreshment
After your donation, you relax in the donor café for about 10 minutes while enjoying a snack and drink. It is important to replace fluids in the body after donating and the snack can provide energy until you get a chance to have a full meal.
Before you leave, we encourage you to make an appointment for your next donation.
