Three ways to donate blood

There are three different ways to donate blood. You can save a life with all of them!

Where can I donate blood?

You can donate whole blood at our donation locations throughout the country. In Vantaa, you can also donate plasma or platelets only. The plasma or platelets are collected by a machine in a process called apheresis, and the other parts of the blood are returned to the donor’s bloodstream. Ask our staff about different ways to donate blood!

Whole blood

The fastest way to donate blood is to donate whole blood. We have donation locations in most areas! In whole blood donation, all parts of the blood are collected and used to make different blood products.

Where: All over Finland
Duration: 10 min for donation, approx. 1 hour for the entire visit

Read how to donate blood

Plasma

This method separates plasma (the liquid component of the blood) from the blood. The rest of the blood is returned to the donor. Plasma is used to treat patients with antibody deficiencies, for example.

Where: Vantaa
Duration: 45 min for donation, approx. 1.5 hours for the entire visit

Find out more about plasma donation
Man donating platelets. An apheresis device can be seen next to it, and a smiley drop from the Blood Service in the background.

Platelets

Platelets are needed to prevent and treat bleeding. They are used to treat patients with leukaemia, for example. In platelet donation, the platelets are separated from the donor’s blood and the other blood components are returned to the donor.

Where: Vantaa
Duration: 45 min for donation, 1.5 hours for the entire visit

Find out more about platelet donation

Which donation method is right for me?

The same basic donor requirements apply to all methods of blood donation. Each method of donation also has its own set of selection criteria that differ slightly from one another.

For example, the restrictions on travelling that apply to whole blood donation do not apply to plasma donation.

Whole blood donation

If you haven’t donated before, start here! You can probably donate blood if

  • you are 18 or over. In Finland, you can donate blood for the first time if you are 59 years of age or younger.
  • you weigh between 50 and 199 kilos, and
  • you are in good overall health. Many common medicines and diseases do not prevent you from giving blood. You can donate blood even if you take medicines to lower your blood pressure or cholesterol.

We need donors from all blood groups! You do not need to know your blood group before you donate blood.

Test to see if you can donate whole blood

Plasma donation

You can donate plasma if:

  • you have donated blood at least once,
  • you can travel to Vantaa to donate, and
  • you weigh at least 60kg and your body mass index (BMI) is a maximum of 40.

We particularly need the blood groups AB+ and B+ for plasma donation.

Find out more about plasma donation

Platelet donation

You can donate platelets if:

  • you have donated blood at least once,
  • you can travel to Vantaa to donate,
  • you weigh at least 75kg, and
  • you have enough platelets in your blood.

We particularly need Rh D negative blood groups for platelet donation.

Find out more about platelet donation

How often can I donate blood?

Whole blood donation

Whole blood donation is recommended

  • up to 2-3 times per year for women over 25 years old, and
  • no more than once per year for women aged 18-25.
  • We recommend that men donate a maximum of 3–4 times per year.

The minimum permitted intervals between whole blood donations are 91 days for women and 61 days for men.

Plasma or platelet Donation

  • The minimum interval between two apheresis donations, i.e., plasma or platelet donations, is 14 days.
  • The minimum interval between an apheresis donation and a whole blood donation is 30 days for men and 45 days for women.