All men and women aged between 18 and 65 can donate blood. To preserve the recipient’s health donors must be healthy themselves and not have risky lifestyle habits. All donors must pass a medical history test prior to donation.
Blood can be donated in many places such as hospital blood transfusion services and mobile blood collection units (bloodmobiles) that go to high schools, universities, parishes, and communities. Many people donate blood in collection minibuses at their workplaces.
The websites of hospitals and voluntary associations (AVIS, FIDAS, FRATRES, and the Italian Red cross) can be consulted to check locations and times of collections organised seasonally.
In Italy, there are 1340 collection units connected to 326 blood transfusion centres coordinated by 21 Regional Blood Centres, so the network has 1666 collection points in all.
Prior to donation, a physician asks the potential donor a series of questions about their general health and lifestyle, and examines them. He/she also usually gives them a questionnaire.
If during this preliminary meeting the physician finds that the potential donor’s health condition is not optimal, he/she invites him/her to return at a later date or to abstain from donation. Excluded donors are always given all the reasons that led to their deferral or exclusion. If the tests carried out reveal any abnormalities, donors are promptly informed and encouraged to undergo more tests and ask for a specialist consultation.
For further information visit https://www.donailsangue.salute.gov.it