Everything you need to know for a post-holiday donation

We love that our donors are adventurous souls. But after exploring the world, there are a few things you need to think about before jumping back into the donor chair.

Do I need to wait to donate?

Different destinations can expose you to various health conditions that may take time to show up in your system. By asking returning donors to wait, we’re looking out for you and the patients who'll receive your donation.

What affects my wait time?

A few things come into play here. Where you travelled is the biggest one, but we’ll also factor in how long you stayed at each destination and what activities you took part in while travelling. For example, if you were scratched or bitten while hiking, there may be a risk of rabies that needs to be assessed before you can donate.

Does every destination have a wait period?

Fortunately not. Many countries don’t affect your eligibility to donate blood. For instance, if you just caught a flight from Bali, you can stop off at your local donor centre on the way home from the airport. But if you’re returning from Vietnam, you’ll have to wait four weeks to give whole blood.

What if I got sick while travelling?

Nothing’s worse than getting sick on a holiday. If you were unlucky enough to catch a bug during your adventures, you'll need to be fully recovered before donating. Your health comes first!

How do I know when I'm good to go?

Easy! Before booking your donation, make sure you're feeling 100% well, check your eligibility on our website and give us a call if you're unsure.

Add saving lives to your itinerary

If you’re planning a trip right now, check out our handy Travel Eligibility Quiz and see how your holiday destination could affect your donation. Remember: you might be about to embark on a trip of a lifetime, but your next donation could be somebody’s lifeline.