⌂ » Opportunities » Blood Donorship

Blood Donorship

This information explains how YOU can help us make the donation process safe for yourself and patients who might receive your blood. These recommendations are directly from the National Blood Transfusion Service.

Frequently asked questions →

Blood Donation Locations in Kingston & St. Andrew and St. Catherine:

Visit any of the following locations in the SERHA region to donate blood:

The National Blood Transfusion Service: Blood Bank
21 Slipe Pen Road, Kingston
Tel: (876) 630-1984
Mondays to Thursdays: 8:00am to 4:00pm
Fridays: 8:00am to 3:00pm

Kiwanis Blood Collection Centre: National Chest Hospital
36 Barbican Road, Kingston 6
Tel: (876) 702-3513
Mondays to Fridays: 9:00am. to 2:00pm
Saturdays: 9:00am to 3:00pm

University Hospital of the West Indies
The Donor Centre
7 Golding Avenue, Kingston
Tel: (876) 927-1630
Mondays to Fridays: 8:00am to 3:00pm

National Chest Blood Collection Centre

National Chest Hospital

Saturdays: 9:00am-3:00pm

Spanish Town Blood Collection

Spanish Town Hospital

Saturdays: 9:00am-3:00pm

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who Can Be A Blood Donor?

You must:

Be in GOOD HEALTH
Be within the ages of 17 to 60 years
Weigh more than 110 pounds

Males and females are equally welcome.

What To Do Before You Donate Blood?

Have a good night’s rest
Have a meal 1-3 hours before donating
Have at least 3 glasses of water 3 hours before donating
Wear loose fitting clothing, especially the upper garment

How Do We Determine If You Are Eligible To Donate Blood?

We will ask questions about health, travel and medication.
We will ask questions to see if you might be at risk for hepatitis, HIV or any other blood borne infection.
We take a small blood sample to make sure you are not anaemic and to identify your blood type.
We take your blood pressure and pulse.

How Long Does The Process Take?

Please reserve about 45 mins to 1 hour for donating. The actual bleeding process takes 4-10 minutes (depending on the individual). The rest of the time is needed for processing and resting after donation.

What To Do After You Donate?

Drink a lot of fluids
Take the rest of the day easy
After donating, most persons will not feel different and are able to perform their usual duties. Your body will naturally replace the blood that you donated.

What Is Your Blood Used For?

Replace blood lost due to trauma (motor vehicle accidents, stabs wounds, burns etc.)
Treat persons with rare abnormalities such as haemophilia
Replace blood lost during surgical procedures (cardiac surgery, complications in pregnancy, etc)
Improves the quality of life for sickle cell patients
Anaemia of various causes