Blood donor in Russia in 2023

Features of donating blood and its components, who can become a donor and what privileges he can count on – in the material “Kommersant”.

Blood transfusion plays an important role in medicine: it is necessary during operations, in the treatment of hereditary and oncological diseases, and is used for burns and stab wounds. During the COVID-19 pandemic, blood plasma began to be used to treat coronavirus. According to WHO, to satisfy all medical needs per 1,000 people, at least 10 blood donations are needed. About 118.5 million donations are made annually in the world. In Russia, less than 2% of the population donate blood, while in order to form the necessary stock of biomaterial, this number should be twice as high. Approximately 70% of donors are men, their average age is 30 years. The standard blood donation is 450 ml, or 7-13% of the total volume in the body (depending on body weight). The deficit is restored within 72 hours. The average plasma donation is 600 ml.

How to become a donor

Donors are of three types:

– voluntary – those who help free of charge;

– family or replacement;

– paid.

To donate blood, you must meet the following parameters:

— have Russian citizenship or a residence permit for at least one year;

– be of legal age;

– weigh more than 50 kg;

– have no contraindications.

Donation is made at the blood transfusion station. Before that, a transfusiologist conducts a medical examination of a person wishing to donate blood or its components: he studies the history of life, pays special attention to past infectious diseases, suspicious contacts, trips abroad, work in hazardous industries, fresh vaccinations, and the presence of addictions. After that, blood samples are taken from a potential donor to exclude pathologies that may interfere with the procedure.

Contraindications to donation can be permanent (absolute) and temporary.

The first category includes:

– diseases of the blood, central nervous system, respiratory organs, digestion, genitourinary system;

– malignant tumors;

– heart disease;

– syphilis;

– viral hepatitis;

– tuberculosis;

– typhus;

– parasitic diseases;

– HIV infection;

– radiation sickness;

– drug addiction, alcoholism;

– osteomyelitis;

– mental disorders and a number of others.

The second group includes:

– pregnancy;

– removal of a tooth;

– lactation period;

— insufficient level of hemoglobin (less than 140 g/l);

– low or high blood pressure;

– pulse outside 55-100 beats per minute.

– recent surgery or transfusion;

– recent diseases, such as tonsillitis, SARS, influenza, malaria;

– exacerbation of allergies;

– recent vaccination;

– body temperature above 37 degrees;

– taking certain medications.

Also, people who have recently made tattoos and completed a course of acupuncture will receive a temporary withdrawal.

Note! Don’t donate blood too often. Men can do this no more than five times a year, and women – four. In addition, after donating blood, you must withstand at least 60 days. In the case of plasma donation, this threshold is significantly lower – 14 days.

“There is no upper age limit, there are donors who cross the threshold of 70 years. The donor needs to lead a healthy lifestyle, follow a diet, stop smoking before donating, and take a passport or ID card with you to the blood transfusion department. In general, there are enough blood donors, but in large cities the need for donor blood and its components is higher, since more surgical interventions are performed in medical institutions of the city, federal subordination, patients receive treatment in oncology departments, combustiology departments. The need for donor blood is met in the required volume, but sometimes there is a shortage of platelets due to the short shelf life for transfusion from the donor to the recipient – five to seven days,” said honorary donor Maxim Gorokhov.

What Donors Need

A person who has donated blood or its components is entitled to free food, which can be replaced by monetary compensation. It is defined as 5% of the subsistence minimum, so it differs depending on the region.

The rights and obligations of the donor, as well as the privileges due to him, are described in the relevant federal law (125-FZ “On the donation of blood and its components”) and are regulated Art. 186 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation. Each person chooses under what conditions to perform this procedure – for free or for money.

What are the benefits for donors?

Those who donate blood are entitled to two days off – on the day of blood donation and after it. At the same time, if desired, the donor can go to work, and take advantage of additional days off at any time convenient for him, including adding them to his vacation. Such rest must be paid. Documentary evidence of the donation is a certificate, which is issued in free form, but must be certified by a seal.

The most active donors are awarded a special badge – “Honorary Donor of Russia”. It is received by people who have made more than 40 blood donations or 60 plasma donations. By law, donating platelets and red blood cells is equivalent to donating whole blood. Honorary donors receive medical care out of turn and once a year they receive a payment, which is regularly indexed. In 2023, her size will be RUB 16,578

“Executive authorities have the right to develop their own regional programs for the development of blood services and donation support. There are such programs in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other regions. In these subjects, donors are provided with additional measures of social support,” Mr. Gorokhov noted.

Important! Social support is only donors who donate blood for free. For example, someone who donated the maximum allowable amount of blood twice during the year can count on the priority right to receive preferential vouchers to a sanatorium.

If blood is donated on a paid basis, then the amount of remuneration for it is set individually in each region. For example, if in Moscow available (from the second donation) 4080 rubles. for blood and 3600 rubles. for plasma, then in the Omsk region it is several times less – 500 rubles. and 600 rubles. respectively.

Arkady Komarov; group “Direct speech”