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We take great care to ensure the safety of our blood supply and the health and well-being of all our donors and patients during the Covid-19 outbreak.
We are closely monitoring all developments in relation to Covid-19 outbreak and are regularly reviewing our procedures in place to maintain blood supply safety.
Below are answers to the most common questions asked.
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.
If you have had a routine covid test, for example, one undertaken in your workplace, following contact with a positive case, following travel or prior to attending concerts, provided the result was negative and you are symptom free you will be able to donate.
We would advise you not to donate at this time if this applies to you.
If you are fully self-isolating as a household due to a person in the household being in a vulnerable group then please do not attend. If you are not attending please cancel your appointment if you have one.
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, due to a rise in coronavirus cases, we are strongly encouraging donors to wear a face covering when attending their donation appointment.
Donors who attend wearing disposable gloves will be asked to remove them at triage prior to entering the clinic. They will also need to wash their hands or use the hand sanitiser at that point.
We routinely follow strict infection prevention and control measures for the safety of our donors and the donated blood.
Social distancing is no longer required at donation clinics.
For safety reasons, we’re asking that, where possible, only those giving blood enter the donation session.
If this poses you with an issue please contact our Donor Contact Centre on 0800 252 266 in advance of your appointment to discuss.
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:
If unsure, please seek further advice from the trial unit you are enrolled in.