Donor needs to be asymptomatic, fully recovered, and in good condition after the operation.

• Surgical area needs to be fully healed, without stitches or signs of infection.

• Underlying cause for operation known and results from biopsy (if done) need to be available and blood loss at a minimum.

• Surgery performed outside the Nordic countries requires individual assessment.

• If a blood transfusion was needed in surgery, donation is permitted 4 months after surgery. Screening for red blood cell antibodies needs to be done.

• Laparoscopic chiropractic – Check which operation has been performed. With straight (rigid) instruments – can donate blood 1 month after the operation if the reason for the examination is approved. With flexible (flexible) instruments – can donate blood 4 months after the operation if the reason for the examination is approved.

Donors can be considered to be fully recovered if they:

• are well.

• have regained mobility.

• are back to activities of daily living (e.g. housework, employment, driving).

Minor surgery: Can donate blood 1 week - 4 months after full recovery and complication-free.

Examples of minor surgery and waiting period:

• Removal of skin lesions: Can donate blood when stitches are removed and the wound has healed and the skin lesion is benign. The results of any tissue sample must be available before collection.

• Removal of nails, screws, pins or plates, etc: Can donate blood after stitches have been removed and the wound has healed.

• Appendectomy: Can donate blood 1 month after recovery if complication-free. If complications or open surgery– can donate blood 4 months after surgery.

• Carpal tunnel surgery: Can donate blood 1 month after surgery. If shortly after surgery, use the other arm.

• Gallstone surgery: Can donate blood 1 month after laparoscopic surgery if asymptomatic and inflexible instruments have been used. Can donate blood 4 months after surgery if flexible instruments have been used. Open abdominal surgery – can donate blood 4 months after surgery.

• Hernia surgery abdomen or groin, minor: Can donate blood 1 month after the operation if asymptomatic.

• Hysterectomy, removal of the uterus: Laparoscopic hysterectomy or vaginal hysterectomy – can donate blood 1 month after surgery if asymptomatic and inflexible instruments have been used and the surgery has not been performed due to malignancy. Open abdominal surgery – can donate blood 4 months after the surgery if it was not performed due to malignancy.

• Kidney stone surgery: Can donate blood 1 month after laparoscopic surgery if asymptomatic and inflexible instruments have been used. Can donate blood 4 months after surgery if flexible instruments have been used. Open abdominal surgery, may be approved after 4 months.

• Meniscus surgery: Can donate blood 1 month after surgery.

• Sterilization, female: Can donate blood 1 month after surgery.

• Sterilization, male (vasectomy): Can donate blood 1 week after surgery.

• Tonsillectomy: Can donate blood 1 month after surgery.

• TVT – surgery for stress urinary incontinence: Can donate blood 1 month after the surgery.

• Varicose vein surgery, legs: Can donate blood 1 week after recovery, stitches must be removed and the area must be healed. If an infection has occurred after surgery, can donate blood no earlier than 2 weeks after recovery.

• Eye surgery: Can donate blood if wounds have healed, there is no inflammation or infection in the eyes and the surgery was not performed due to diabetes or malignant disease.

  • After cataract surgery: 3 months.

  • Laser surgery for myopia or iris atrophy: 1 month.

  • Injection therapy for age-related macular degeneration: 1 week.

Major surgery: Can donate blood 4 months after full recovery and complication-free.

Examples of major surgeries:

• Gastric banding/Gastric sleeve/Gastric bypass/Bariatric surgery: Can donate blood 4 months after surgery. Iron levels need to be within range.

• Hernia surgery abdomen, large: Can donate blood 4 months after the surgery.

• Breast augmentation, breast reduction, abdominoplasty: Can donate blood 4 months after the surgery.

• Herniated disc surgery: Can donate blood 4 months after the surgery.

• Hip replacement surgery : Can donate blood 4 months after surgery.

• Heart surgery – if operated on due to a congenital heart defect and has been cured: Can donate blood. Other indications – not eligible for blood donation. Decision made with donor safety in mind. Permanent deferral. Implanted foreign material in the bloodstream – not eligible for blood donation. Permanent deferral. See: Heart diseases

• Bone surgery: Insertion of nails, screws, pins or plates etc.: Can donate blood 4 months after the surgery as it may take time before an infection causes symptoms. See Fracture

• Intestinal obstruction (ileus): Can donate blood 4 months after the surgery.

• Knee joint surgery – e.g. insertion of a prosthesis: Can donate blood 4 months after the surgery. Cruciate ligament surgery: Can donate blood 4 months after the surgery.

• Spleen texture, removal of the spleen: Can donate blood if the reason for the surgery is trauma. Renewal of vaccination may be needed, which can take about 12 months. Not eligible for blood donation during the vaccination period. Not eligible for blood donation if the reason for the surgery is malignancy, myeloproliferative disease, or hemolytic anemia.

• Nephrectomy, removal of the kidney: Can donate blood 4 months after surgery if underlying reason is an accident. If surgery is performed due to malignancy: Not eligible for blood donation. Permanent deferral.

• Kidney donation: Can donate blood 4 months after surgery.

• Spinal stenosis: Can donate blood 4 months after surgery.

• Certain major surgeries cause permanent deferral. Example: If a large part of the lung, stomach or colon has been removed. Aortic surgery, heart surgery (if the cause is other than a congenital heart defect and the person has fully recovered), kidney recipience. Surgery for malignant disease.

Further information:

During surgery, there can be significant blood loss. If surgery is planned, it is important that blood donors do not donate blood . Blood donation shortly before surgery can delay the recovery process.

Surgeries can increase the risk of infection, because of instruments used or the surgical wound. Therefore, blood donation is not permitted until after a certain period of time has passed. The deferral period depends on the extent of the surgery.

Treatment of splenectomy is used for various benign blood diseases to reduce the destruction of blood cells.

Brain surgery may prevent blood donation. Doctors and nurses at the Blood Bank assess each case individually. If a berry aneurysm has been treated with radiation or surgery and brain hemorrhage is not an underlying cause, can donate blood.

Contrast agents/anesthetics: Not eligible for blood donation if testing is being done. Can donate blood when the results are available and do not prevent blood donation. When intravenous administration of medication is needed it is recommended to wait 2-3 days before donating blood.