BLOOD DONOR REGISTRY

The Blood Service maintains a registry of blood donors, which today contains data on more than half a million blood donors in Finland. The registry contains basic information including any restrictions and/or relevant comments and test results (see below).

Correct identification of the donor is important for the safety of blood products. Previous donation data and laboratory test results can be utilised in determining donor eligibility.

The donor's contact details are required so that we can notify the donor in case the laboratory tests indicate a need for further investigations or if eligibility for blood donation is somehow affected.

Donors are entitled to see their registry details. They may request for a registry extract in person or by sending a request letter containing the donor's identity code and personal signature.

The Blood Donor Registry data is confidential and governed by strict regulations on privacy of information. This data cannot be accessed from outside the Blood Service system.

Basic Information

Name
Identity code
Sex
Languague (Finnish, Swedish, other)
Address
Telephone number (home, work and/or mobile)
E-mail address
Place of work
Donor number
Donation venue and date
Haemoglobin level
Any health information and/or restrictions indicated on the health questionnaire or obtained by interview that may be relevant for donation or blood product safety.

The Blood Service data system uses the identity code and the donor number to identify donors. Changes in personal or contact details can be notified to the Blood Service by phone, by letter or in person.

Tests

The laboratory test results of donated blood are also recorded in the Blood Donor Registry. Every donated bag of blood is tested for the following:

ABO, RhD and Kell blood groups
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Hepatitis A, B and C viruses
Treponema Pallidum, or the Syphilis bacterium
Parvovirus

The donor's blood sample is tested for human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) antibodies every third year, and for red-cell antibodies every fifth year. In addition to the ABO, RhD and Kell blood groups, regular donors may be analysed for some 30 other blood group antigens. A small number of donors are asked for a permission to investigate matters related to special-purpose preparations, such as white blood cell antigens and platelet antigens.