Donating blood
Every component has a job to do…
Whole Blood is made up of four separate components that can be transfused separately or together to treat various conditions.
- Red blood cells carry oxygen to the organs and tissues and removes carbon dioxide through the lungs. It is used during emergencies, surgeries and cancer treatments.
- White blood cells protect the body from infection. They can also carry viruses and bacteria and, for this reason, are removed from any donated blood.
- Plasma is a liquid component that carries nutrients to all parts of the body and carries waste products out of the body, acting like a cell transportation system. It is also rich in vital proteins used to treat patients undergoing extensive surgery or trauma, and patients with bleeding disorders.
- Platelets provide the basis for clotting, which helps control bleeding. It is used to treat patients with bleeding disorders and cancer.
All our blood cells are produced by our bone marrow - our body’s blood cell factory.
Do you know your blood type?
Everyone has a type, and you belong to one of four: O, A, B and AB. An additional factor — the ‘Rh factor’ — determines whether your type is positive or negative. When you donate, we test your blood to identify exactly which type you belong to. This is important because a recipient’s blood type determines what blood type they can receive.
Becoming a donor
Thinking about becoming a first-time donor? Here are a few simple steps to you get started:
- Find out if you’re eligible. Take the quiz and learn more about the ABCs of eligibility.
- Find a donor centre near you.
- Book an appointment. Booking in advance helps our clinic run smoothly and also helps us ensure your first donation experience is a good one.
- Learn more about our process.
Still have questions? Sign up for more information by email or call to speak with one of our trained healthcare professionals at 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283).
FAQs: Whole Blood Donations
For questions related to COVID-19, see our COVID-19 page for details. Please visit our donating plasma page if you have questions about donating plasma.
To learn more about the donation process, read the donor brochure: What you must know to donate blood
Do I need an appointment to donate blood?
Yes, appointments are required to donate blood and we offer same-day appointments. We ask all eligible donors to book an appointment online at blood.ca, on the GiveBlood app, or by calling 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283)
This is new, why did you add a privacy notice?
The Privacy Notice to Blood Donors was always available at donation sites and on our website but it was not mandatory for donors to acknowledge it. Stem Cell registrants and Cord Blood Bank participants have always been required to acknowledge their consent to our collection, use and disclosure of their personal information. We are now expanding this requirement to our blood and plasma donors as a best privacy practice, which aligns with our commitment to sharing our information practices in a transparent manner and continuously improving our processes. We have merged the privacy notices for blood donors, stem cell registrants and cord blood bank participants to make it clearer how we collect, use and disclose personal information for the purpose of operating the blood and stem cell supply.
Are you doing anything new with my personal information under this new privacy notice?
No, Canadian Blood Services is not collecting, using or disclosing your personal information differently. We have merged the privacy notices for blood donors, stem cell registrants and cord blood bank participants to make it clearer how we collect, use and disclose personal information for the purpose of operating the blood and stem cell supply.
Are you going to sell my personal information?
No, Canadian Blood Services does not sell your personal information.
Who can I talk to about this? What if I want more information?
For questions or concerns about our information practices and how Canadian Blood Services collects, uses, and discloses your information, please contact Privacy & Compliance: Toll Free: 1.877.262.9191 Email: privacy@blood.ca. For all other inquiries, please contact our National Contact Centre: 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283) feedback@blood.ca
How much blood do you take with each donation?
We collect about 450 ml (a pint) of blood during a single blood donation.
How long will it take my body to replace the blood that’s taken?
The plasma portion of your donation is replaced within hours and the platelet portion within days. Red blood cells can take months to replenish.
How long after donating blood should I avoid strenuous activity?
You should avoid strenuous activity for six to eight hours and heavy lifting for 24 hours after giving blood.
Are there times when I should contact Canadian Blood Services after I’ve given blood?
Yes. Please call us if you:
- Forgot to inform us about any health changes, lifestyle changes or travel history
- Decide that your blood should not be used
- Experience adverse reactions (e.g. fainting or pain in your arm) after you leave the donor centre
- Develop diarrhea or get sick within a week of your donation
- Are diagnosed with West Nile Virus or Zika Virus within 14 days of your donation
- Test positive for Hepatitis or HIV within 12 months of your donation
Donor card
New donors
It can take between 6 to 8 weeks to receive your donor card via Canada Post.
If you have not received your card 8 weeks after your first donation, please do not hesitate to contact us again. You can call us toll free at 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283) and a customer service representative will be happy to assist you.
You can still donate blood without your Canadian Blood Services donor card since your donor information is on file. Simply bring ID that is government-issued with your full name and date-of-birth to the blood donor centre.
Obtaining a replacement card
You may reorder your card the next time you donate at your local blood donor clinic. Simply bring ID that is government-issued with your full name and date-of-birth to the blood donor centre. If you are a recent donor, simply call us at 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283) and we can help you over the phone.
Unfortunately, Canadian Blood Services is unable to issue donor cards to people who no longer donate blood.
For someone to be a ‘universal’ donor, what blood type must he/she have?
People with O-negative (O-) blood are considered universal donors because anyone can receive O- blood. But all blood types are needed to meet the needs of patients for blood and blood products.
I am currently taking medication. Can I still give blood?
If you want to know whether a particular medication might keep you from being eligible to donate, you can call us at 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283). You can still give blood when taking certain medications: in many cases, it isn’t the medicine but rather the reason for taking it that may be of concern.
Why are the questions asked during the screening process so personal?
The screening process is lengthy and may seem intrusive, but it is absolutely necessary to ensure your safety and safeguard the blood supply by screening out people who are at greater risk of transmitting infections through their blood. The criteria we use to determine donor eligibility are based on risk factors. All our screening measures meet stringent regulatory requirements and accepted worldwide blood service standards.
If you test all donated blood, is screening even necessary?
While we test every donation using sophisticated and reliable procedures, these tests are not perfect. There are brief periods after infection called ‘window periods’ when current tests cannot detect signs of a virus. Advances in testing technology have reduced but not eliminated these window periods. Therefore, we have strict screening procedures to ensure each donor poses the least possible risk of transmitting diseases through his or her blood.
I donate blood regularly and my answers to the screening questions are always the same. Do I have to answer every time I donate?
Because a lot can happen between donations, we are required to treat every donation as a separate event. For the safety of the blood supply and potential blood recipients, we must take maximum caution and ask questions every time.
I am a healthy teenager. Why do I have to wait until I’m 17 before I donate?
Canadian standards for blood donation dictates that 17 is the earliest age at which you can donate blood. There are other ways to give. Find out how you can get involved by becoming a volunteer or peer leader - organizing a high-school blood donation events - by emailing us at feedback@blood.ca or calling 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283).
May I bring children with me when I come to donate?
Yes, children are welcome into the donor centre under the following parameters:
- Children under 10 must be accompanied and supervised by a third person who is at least 12 years of age. The child and third person supervisor should remain in the refreshment area.
- Children who are 10 and older are welcome to wait in the refreshment area without supervision.
- Children of any age are not to be present in the donor eligibility screening room while the donor and CBS staff member are reviewing information.