Blood donation

The West Nile virus transmission season is starting in Europe. The epidemic will affect blood donation in Finland, as travelling to at-risk areas between 1 July and 30 November will incur a 28-day…

World Blood Donor Day is celebrated on the 14th of June. The international day raises awareness of the importance of blood donation and thanks blood donors for their contributions.

There are many more different blood groups than the eight basic blood groups taught in school biology textbooks. As the demographic structure changes, so does the need for donors. The Blood Service…

At the end of 2024, the Finnish Red Cross Blood Service will open a new donation site on the second floor of the Shopping Center Minna. The current facilities on the other side of the market square…

In the weeks in which May Day and Ascension Thursday fall, the Blood Service’s locations are only open for four days each week. We need more donors than usual on those days to ensure that we can…

New blood donors are needed in order for Finland to have a sufficient amount of blood donors now as well as in the future to secure patient care. Many people considering donating blood need…

For decades, a Finnish motorist association, SMOTO (Suomen Motoristit ry), has been actively encouraging its members to donate blood. Raimo Ryhtä, a motorist and active blood donor from the city of…

Blood donors only accounted for just over 3% of all people in the donating age range in Finland last year. Over the past ten years, the proportion has decreased by approximately a percentage point.…

How did we manage to take care of Finland's blood supply last year? In the Blood Service's new annual report 2023, you will find key figures and statistics, as well as reviews of the most important…

The Blood Service has started testing blood donors for hepatitis E as hepatitis E infections have increased in Finland in the beginning of this year. There have been no reported cases of hepatitis E…

It is important that enough donors lend a helping hand on the days leading up to and immediately after Easter. The Blood Service centres are closed on Good Friday March 29th but open on Easter…

As of 1st of March 2024, blood donors can only verify their identity with a valid ID. For example, an expired passport is no longer sufficient to prove identity.