Proper selection of blood donors still remains the most fundamental strategy towards minimizing or eliminating risk, and it is for this reason that several international organizations agree on the following definition of voluntary, Unpaid blood donation:

"Voluntary Unpaid blood donors are persons who give blood, plasma or other blood components of their own free will and receive no payment for it, either in form of cash, or in kind which could be considered a substitute for money. This includes time off work, other than reasonably needed for the donation and reimbursements of direct travel costs are compatible with voluntary Unpaid blood donation."

It is now estimated that up to 60 per cent blood collected worldwide is donated directly or indirectly through Red Cross and Red Crescent blood donor recruitment programs, which targets voluntary non-remunerated blood donors.

Today, out of a total of 181 Member National Societies, some Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are in charge of major blood programs at the national level. Others have complete blood services or are involved in some blood centre activities. Most are involved in promoting blood donation and blood donor recruitment.

There is no substitute of human blood, it can't be manufactured in a factory nor can animal blood be transfused to human beings. Therefore to provide safe quality blood, the blood donor service must have healthy, responsive and motivated voluntary blood donors to meet the country's need (2% of the population), aging between 16 to 60 years, weighing 50 KG or above and having no history of transfusion transmitted diseases, drug addiction or any major ailment in the recent past.

The blood volume in men and woman are 80ml/kg and 70ml/kg respectively of their body weights i.e. 5000 to 6000 ml of circulating blood. The volume in circulation required for routine work is 50ml/kg of body weight for both men and women. Excess blood possessed by men and women are 30ml/kg and 20ml/kg of their body weights. From the excess blood 7-8ml/kg i.e. around 350 to 450 ml can be safely donated without any side effects or weakness.
The blood donation process starts with the registration of the voluntary donor, which requires the donor to complete a Blood Donation Record with questions about his past and present health and lifestyle. This process is conducted in privacy. After registration the donor's hemoglobin (12.5gm or more), temperature, blood pressure and pulse is checked. A doctor examines the donor and answers any queries the donor may have before blood donation.

All the equipment used in the blood donation including the needle and the blood bag are sterile and are used only once for the donor, after which the needle is broken for safety purposes.

The donor is provided with juices before and after the blood donation. The blood donor after being recommended fit by the doctor for blood donation is helped to a comfortable donor bed, where the phlebotomist cleans an area of his 'donating arm' by a special solution. When the actual donation starts the donor only feels the 'prick of the needle' and nothing more.

The blood donation is finished in about 10 minutes in which the donor has to donate about a pint of blood; most people don't even feel the difference. Your body will replace the liquid part of the pint in a few hours and the blood cells in about 4 to 6 weeks.

All collected blood is then grouped and screened for HIV I & II, HbsAg and HCV to make the blood safe. The blood is stored in special refrigerators at 2 to 4C.
All donors receive recognition and their Blood Grouping and Screening results.

After Blood Donation, the donor can go back to work without any problem. Donors can return to give blood after 56 days of their donation.