Potential donors are evaluated for anything that might make their blood unsafe to use. Donating is relatively safe, but some donors have bruising where the needle is inserted or may feel faint. People can also have blood drawn for their own future use ( autologous donation). In countries that allow paid donation some people are paid, and in some cases there are incentives other than money such as paid time off from work. However, this is reversed during disasters when blood donations increase, often creating an excess supply that will have to be later discarded. Despite the many reasons that people donate, not enough potential donors actively donate. Many donors donate for several reasons, such as a form of charity, general awareness regarding the demand for blood, increased confidence in oneself, helping a personal friend or relative, and social pressure.

In some countries, established supplies are limited and donors usually give blood when family or friends need a transfusion (directed donation). Today in the developed world, most blood donors are unpaid volunteers who donate blood for a community supply. Blood banks often participate in the collection process as well as the procedures that follow it. Donation may be of whole blood, or of specific components directly ( apheresis). From left to right: Two cell separators for apheresis, secluded office for pre-donation blood pressure measurement and blood count, and on the right, chairs for whole blood donations.Ī blood donation occurs when a person voluntarily has blood drawn and used for transfusions and/or made into biopharmaceutical medications by a process called fractionation (separation of whole blood components). Blood donation center at the University Hospital of Basel, Switzerland.

Plasma donation center