Things to know about donating

Tested positive for Covid-19
If you have tested positive for COVID-19, you can donate when at least 7 days have passed following your recovery of symptoms. You may be left with a dry cough, but as long as you feel well, you can then donate.

Symptoms of Covid-19 but not had a test
If you have had symptoms of Covid-19 but have not had a test, you can donate when at least 7 days have passed following your recovery of symptoms.

If you are experiencing symptoms of ‘long covid’, for your own health and wellbeing please do not donate until you are fully fit and well.

Please contact us to discuss any cardiac issues that you have experienced as a result of Covid-19 infection prior to making your appointment.

In all instances, if you donate, it is important that you report any illnesses that you develop in the 14 days post donation.

We do not control the rules and regulations around blood donation.

Our current donation intervals still stand for donations, this allows time for the body to restore iron levels, haemoglobin levels and red blood cell levels.

There is no requirement for the wearing of face masks for donors or staff at donation clinics. However, we are strongly encouraging donors to wear a face covering when attending their donation appointment.

For safety reasons, we’re asking that, where possible, only those giving blood enter the donation session.

We understand bringing children to a clinic in exceptional circumstances may be unavoidable. Due to the variety of environments in which we work and the unpredictable nature of healthcare provision, we cannot create a standardised response for all donors and all children…read more

We’re asking blood donors to only come into the session at their appointment time.

This will reduce any queuing.

We do not routinely test for SARS-CoV-2.

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses. At present, there is no evidence of any type of coronavirus being transmitted through blood donation or transfusion.

There is no evidence that COVID-19 is transmissible by blood transfusion, and our strict screening process means we don’t allow people who are unwell to donate blood.

No. We don’t take enough blood to compromise your immune system and as long as you are fit and healthy when you donate you are not at any additional risk.

Blood should not be donated until at least two days after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine as part of the UK vaccination programme. You must also be well with no ongoing local or systemic reactions to the vaccine.

If you participated in a COVID–19 vaccine trial:

• • blood cannot be donated until 4 weeks after the most recent immunisation, or
  • if you are still within any deferral period advised in the protocol for any clinical trial you are enrolled in.

If unsure, please seek further advice from the trial unit you are enrolled in.