Donation frequency

How often you can donate depends on which type of donation you give.

Blood donations

Male donors must wait a minimum of 12 full weeks between each blood donation and can give up to 4 donations in a calendar year.

Female donors must wait a minimum of 16 full weeks between each blood donation and can give up to 3 donations in a calendar year.

Donors with Genetic Haemochromatosis
People with Genetic Haemochromatosis (GH) can give blood more often than the times outlined above, provided they meet all the donor selection criteria and feel well.

The patient’s doctor is responsible for managing the condition and agreeing the donation frequency. It is very important to donate at the intervals the doctor recommends.

If you have GH, please speak to your doctor if you would like to donate through the Welsh Blood Service.

Platelet donations

Platelet donors must wait a minimum of 3 weeks between each platelet donation.

If you decide to return to donating blood after donating platelets, you will need to wait 4 weeks before giving blood.

Bone marrow donations

Most patients only need one donation, but you can make up to two bone marrow donations for an unrelated patient with our Welsh Bone Marrow Donor Registry. This does not stop you donating to a family member in the future if needed.

Donating bone marrow via blood (apheresis)

After making a peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) donation, you will need to wait 3 months before giving blood.

Donating bone marrow via your hip (pelvic) bone. 

If you make a bone marrow donation, you will need to wait 6 months before giving blood.