Become a blood donor in Spain: Who can give blood in Spain and how to

Find out how you can donate blood in Spain and if you’re eligible

Who can give blood in Spain?

• Donors must be in good health at the time of donation. This includes having a body weight of at least 50kg.
• While older individuals can donate blood, first-time donors must be under 60 years old according to Spanish rules.
• It’s important to note that you cannot give blood in Spain if you have lived in the UK for more than 12 months during the period 1980-1996 due to the presence of mad cow disease at that time.
• Men can donate blood up to four times in a 12-month period, while women can donate up to three times. There should be at least two months between each donation.

Where you can give blood in Spain

What is giving blood in Spain like?

1. First, make sure you don’t turn up to give blood without having eaten beforehand. Having some food in your stomach is a good way to ensure your energy levels are high enough to be able to give blood.
2. Before giving blood, donors are required to complete a questionnaire providing information about their health history and current state of health. They will also undergo a medical examination, including checks for blood pressure and haemoglobin levels.
3. A medical professional conducts an interview to confirm the donor’s eligibility based on their health status and recent activities.
4. If you pass all these steps and are deemed eligible, you can proceed with the blood donation process. The actual donation typically takes around 10 to 15 minutes and involves putting a needle in your arm to extract the blood. It may hurt a little bit when the needle goes in, but the pain is only temporary and very small.

Temporary ineligibility

• Recent surgery: Donors must wait one week after minor surgery and four months after major surgery.
• Recent illness: Donors must wait two weeks after recovering from a fever.
• Medical procedures: Waiting periods vary depending on the procedure, such as endoscopy or catheterisation (four months), acupuncture without disposable material (four months), or vaccinations (ranging from 24 hours to 28 days).
• Travel: Donors must wait at least 28 days, and up to six months depending on the destination.
• Pregnancy: Women cannot donate until six months after giving birth or having an abortion.
• High-risk activities: Donors must wait four months after engaging in risky activities or behaviours involving potential blood contact.

Permanent ineligibility

• Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, or HIV infection
• Insulin-dependent diabetes
• Epilepsy under treatment (up to three years without treatment)
• Serious illnesses

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