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Tips for a Successful Donation

1) Where does the blood go? What is it used for?

The blood is needed for several purposes in hospitals.

    • 26 % Cancer patients
    • 20 % Heart cases
    • 19 % Gastro-intestinal disease
    • 15 % Accident surgeries
    • 7 % Liver and kidney disease
    • 5 % Anaemia
    • 4 % Obstetrics
    • 4 % Orthopaedics

Data Source in German → click here!


2) Why is not everyone allowed to donate?

Since the patients who are receiving blood transfusions in hospitals are already in a very bad health state, one wants to make sure, that the risk of the patient contracting another disease from the blood transfusion is kept as small as possible.To do so many measures are taken: statistical risk assessment, blood screening, general health checks before donation, etc. Due to a high statistical risk some people are generally excluded by law.


3) What are the eligibility requirements?

The eligibility requirements of the American red cross are in almost all cases the same as the eligibility requirements of the German red cross.

Read here in :


4) Does the German red cross make money with blood donations?

No, the costs associated with the supply of the blood to hospitals are paid by the hospitals, but nothing more.


“Nein. Die DRK-Blutspendedienste sind gemeinnützige GmbHs mit sozialem Anspruch, die nach dem Prinzip der Kostendeckung arbeiten. Die Aufwendungen für Blutentnahme, Blutaufbereitung, Laboruntersuchungen, Lagerung/ Verteilung, allgemeine Aufwendungen, Investitionen, Forschung und Entwicklung müssen erwirtschaftet werden. Nur sie werden den belieferten medizinischen Einrichtungen in Rechnung gestellt und sind im europäischen Vergleich auf niedrigstem Niveau.“

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5) Why are men who have had sex with men not allowed to donate?

As explained in 2.) there are some groups for which the statistical risk of transmitting certain diseases
with the blood donation is quite high and who are therefore excluded from donating blood. Men who
have had sex with men are such a group with elevated risks.


Here are some statistical data on the situation in Germany.


6) Which regions of the world are considered to be Malaria prone?

Please click here to access to a map showing all regions with are considered to be Malaria prone.


7) How does the German red cross finance its activities?

The German red cross receives donations and membership fees as well as financial support by the government. Some services are paid for by hospitals and finally insurance companies as explained above.

„Ganz wesentlich tragen unsere Mitbürger durch ihre Geldspenden und Mitgliedsbeiträge zu einer gesicherten Arbeit des DRK bei. Nicht zuletzt sind es aber auch die Bundesregierung, Länder und Kommunen, die zweckgebunden erhebliche Mittel für Aufgaben, die im öffentlichen Interesse liegen, bereitstellen. Durch Kostenerstattung der gesetzlichen Sozial-- und Krankenversicherungsträger wird ein weitere beträchtlicher Teil der Rotkreuzausgaben finanziert.“

Klicken Sie hier für mehr Informationen